Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids
Published on: April 25, 2016
The effect of a single course of antenatal corticosteroids on maternal adrenal function at term
1US Air Force Medical Corp, Wright State University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433, USA.
Objective:
To determine if one course of antenatal corticosteroids at 32 weeks produces maternal adrenal suppression at term.
Methods:
The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test was administered at 38 weeks to 11 pregnant women who had received a single course of antenatal betamethasone prior to 33 weeks and to six control subjects.
Results:
There was no difference in basal cortisol levels (mean+/-standard deviation) between the two groups: 41.6+/-6.9 microg/dl for controls versus 36.0+/-7.8 microg/dl for the steroid group, p=0.16. Peak cortisol levels at 45 min following ACTH stimulation were not different: 61.6+/-3.5 microg/dl for controls versus 55.0+/-2.6 microg/dl for the steroid group, p=0.16. The power of the study to detect a statistical difference in the observed peak cortisol levels was greater than 95%. None of the study subjects had laboratory criteria or clinical signs of adrenal suppression.
Conclusions:
A single course of betamethasone for women at risk for preterm delivery does not produce adrenal insufficiency at term and stress dose steroids are not recommended.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis
Teratogenicity
Hormones of the Adrenal Glands
The adrenal cortex, a powerhouse of hormone synthesis, generates over two dozen corticosteroid hormones. The zona glomerulosa produces mineralocorticoids, exemplified by aldosterone, influencing the electrolyte composition of body fluids. The synthesis of glucocorticoids such as cortisol and corticosterone...
Adrenal Gland Disorders
Adrenal insufficiency, characterized by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production, leads to conditions like Addison's disease. This disorder, affecting the adrenal cortex, exhibits symptoms such as skin bronzing, dehydration, low blood pressure, fatigue, and weight loss. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic ailment causing...
Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

