Objective: To evaluate the effect of multiple weekly maternal corticosteroid courses on neonatal adrenal function. Study Design: We prospectively studied newborns (n=87) whose mothers received zero to multiple courses of dexamethasone. We looked for clinical feature of adrenal hyper or hypo-activity. Serum cortisol levels were obtained at day 1 (SC1) and 3 (SC3) of life.We evaluated dose dependent effect of antenatal steroid on neonatal cortisol level. Results:33 fetuses were exposed to >= 3 courses (>= 6 doses) while 54 fetuses to <= 2 courses (<= 4 doses)of maternal dexamethasone. Maximum exposure was 10 courses (20 doses). No cushingoid features were noted in any infant. No correlation was seen between SC1(mean±SD 4.87±4.63 ug/dL) or SC3 (6.92±5.18) and the number of steroid courses (r2=0.067, r2=0.004, respectively). Similary, serum glucose, Na, K, and BP were not affected by maternal steroid administration. Only severity of respiratory distress was reduced. Conclusion: Multiple courses of antonatal storoids do not appoar to clinically alter the fetal or neonatal adrenal gland function. Figure

figure 1

Figure 1