Aim: To determine if exposure to antenatal steroids (ANS) is associated with adverse effects on growth, cognition, or lung function in children of birthweight < 1501 g at 14 years of age.

Methods: The subjects were 154 consecutive survivors born in the Royal Women's Hospital from 10/1/80 to 3/31/82. The mothers of 78 (51%) survivors received ANS to accelerate fetal lung maturation. No mother received more than one course of ANS. The children were assessed at 14 years of age, corrected for prematurity. Growth measurements were converted to SD scores (SDs) for age and gender. Cognition was assessed by the Wechsler Scales (WISC-III).

Results: Of the 154 survivors, 130 (84%) were assessed at 14 years of age. Overall, the children exposed to ANS were significantly taller and had better cognitive function than those not exposed to ANS (Table). There were no obvious adverse outcomes in children exposed to ANS.

Table 1 No caption available.
Full size table

Conclusion: Exposure to one course of ANS is associated with some improved outcomes at 14 years of age in children of birthweight < 1501 g, with no obvious adverse effects.

Table. Outcome at 14 years of age by ANS exposure. Data are mean (SD), unless otherwise indicated. FEV1=forced expired volume in 1 s; FVC=forced vital capacity; RV=residual volume; TLC=total lung capacity.