Antenatal Corticosteroid Therapy: Which Impact on Birth Parameters?

Antenatal Corticosteroid Therapy: Which Impact on Birth Parameters?

Use of antenatal corticosteroids therapy has increased since the 2000s. The benefits of such a therapy on premature newborns are scientifically and internationally recognized.

Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted to investigate the impact of this antenatal corticosteroid therapy on full-term newborns (> 36 weeks' gestation).

The aim of this study is to compare the birth parameters of full-term newborns exposed or not to antenatal corticosteroid therapy.

All children included in the study were born at the Regional Maternity Hospital of Nancy between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2020.

One hundred and twenty-one of them were exposed during pregnancy to antenatal corticosteroids therapy and constitute the exposed arm, whereas 242 were not and constitute the non-exposed arm.

Data were collected retrospectively regarding history of pregnancy, birth parameters and neonatal adaptation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• all children exposed to an antenatal corticosteroid therapy before 34 weeks of amenorrhea because of a threat of premature delivery
• only full-term newborns

Exclusion Criteria:

• all children exposed to an antenatal corticosteroid therapy before 34 weeks of amenorrhea for other reasons