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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
The effect of hydrocortisone on neurodevelopmental outcome in premature infants less than 29 weeks' gestation
Howard Needelman1, Arvind Hoskoppal, Arvind Hoskappal
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, USA. hneedelm@unmc.edu
Abstract:
The use of postnatal dexamethasone in premature newborns can be associated with a deleterious neurodevelopmental outcome. The effect of hydrocortisone on developmental outcome in these patients is less clear. We therefore sought to examine the effect of hydrocortisone on early developmental outcome in premature newborns. We retrospectively examined the effect of hydrocortisone on developmental outcome during the first 2 years of life in premature infants <29 weeks' gestation at birth. Even though hydrocortisone was used in infants with a greater risk for poor outcome, its use, unless prolonged >7 days, was generally not associated with a worse developmental outcome or higher rate of referral for early intervention. A short course of hydrocortisone in sick premature newborns does not appear to have a deleterious effect on developmental outcome.
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