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Updated: Oct 13, 2026
Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol
Published on: February 18, 2012
A three year follow up of preterm infants after moderately early treatment with dexamethasone
C Romagnoli1, E Zecca, R Luciano
1Division of Neonatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. cromagnoli@rm.unicatt.it
Insights
Moderately early postnatal dexamethasone treatment did not negatively impact growth or neurodevelopment in preterm infants. However, larger studies are needed to fully understand the risks of postnatal steroid use.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric pharmacology
Background:
- Preterm infants often require interventions for chronic lung disease.
- Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid used to manage inflammation and facilitate extubation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of moderately early postnatal dexamethasone on growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants.
- To assess the safety of a specific dexamethasone treatment schedule in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical trial followed 30 preterm infants.
- Fifteen infants received dexamethasone over 14 days starting on day 10 of life; 15 were untreated.
- Growth parameters and neurodevelopmental assessments were compared between groups.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in body weight, height, or head circumference between treated and untreated infants.
- Incidence of cerebral palsy, neurosensory impairment, intelligence quotient, and behavioral abnormalities were similar in both groups.
Conclusions:
- The studied dexamethasone regimen did not impair growth or neurodevelopment in preterm infants.
- Concerns exist from larger trials regarding potential neurodevelopmental risks associated with postnatal steroid use.
- Further follow-up data from extensive trials are necessary to ascertain the complete risk profile.
Objective:
To assess the effect of moderately early postnatal dexamethasone treatment on growth and neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants.
Methods:
Thirty preterm infants enrolled in a randomised clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of moderately early dexamethasone administration in the treatment of chronic lung disease were routinely followed up. Fifteen babies received a total dose of 4.75 mg/kg over 14 days from the 10th day of life, and 15 babies were untreated. Five infants in each group received open label steroids to facilitate extubation later in their clinical course. Growth and neurodevelopmental outcome are reported.
Results:
The mean body weight, height, and head circumference as well as the number of babies with anthropometric measurements within normal range were similar in treated and untreated babies. There was no significant difference between treated and control groups with respect to incidence of cerebral palsy, major neurosensory impairment, mean intelligence quotient scores, and behavioural abnormalities.
Conclusions:
Postnatal dexamethasone treatment with the schedule used in this study did not impair growth and neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants. Data from larger trials have raised major concern that postnatal steroid treatment may increase neurodevelopmental impairment. The full extent of the risk will only be known when more trials have reported follow up data.
