Abstract
In 1951 Silverman reported significant growth disturbance in premature infants who received ACTH for the treatment of retinopathy. Despite the dramatic response that was demonstrated the effects of steroids on growth in this age group remain poorly understood. We have used the neonatal knemometer to assess bone growth in 26 babies who received a total of 32 nine day courses of dexamethasone for the treatment of chronic lung disease. Growth of the lower leg and weight gain were assessed for 10 days before, during and 30 days after the course. There was a decrease in leg length velocity in all subjects during steroid administration and actual limb shrinkage occurred in 15. There was then catch-up growth to the estimated pre-steroid length by 30 days. Oxygen requirements fell and calorific intake rose during steroid treatment Dexamethasone has a profound effect on cartilage and bone growth even in the preterm neonate. The long term consequences of this effect are no clearer today than they were for Silverman more than 40 years ago.
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Gibson, A., Wales, J. & Pearse, R. STEROID INDUCED SUPPRESSION OF BONE GROWTH IN THE PREMATURE NEONATE - SILVERMAN REVISITED. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S71 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00407
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00407