Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
06:27

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates

Published on: December 31, 2015

8.6K

Neonatal Morbidities among Moderately Preterm Infants with and without Exposure to Antenatal Corticosteroids

Sanjay Chawla1, Girija Natarajan1, Dhuly Chowdhury2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan and Hutzel Women's Hospital, Detroit, Michigan.

American Journal of Perinatology
|April 28, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Complete antenatal corticosteroids (ANS) courses significantly reduced respiratory disease and intracranial hemorrhage in moderately preterm infants. Partial or no ANS exposure was linked to higher rates of these serious neonatal morbidities.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Obstetrics
  • Pediatric Critical Care

Background:

  • Moderately preterm (MPT) infants face significant risks for neonatal morbidities.
  • Antenatal corticosteroids (ANS) are administered to mothers to mature fetal lungs and reduce respiratory distress syndrome.
  • The impact of varying degrees of ANS exposure on MPT infant outcomes requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the incidence of surfactant-treated respiratory disease and other neonatal complications in MPT infants based on antenatal corticosteroid (ANS) exposure.
  • To evaluate the association between no, partial, and complete ANS courses and neonatal morbidities in MPT infants.

Main Methods:

  • An observational cohort study utilizing data from the "MPT Registry" of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network.
  • Evaluation of 5,886 MPT infants (290/7-336/7 weeks gestational age) born between January 2012 and November 2013.
  • Comparison of neonatal morbidities across three groups: no ANS, partial ANS, and complete ANS exposure.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in delivery room resuscitation, surfactant-treated respiratory disease, and severe intracranial hemorrhage were observed across ANS exposure groups.
  • Complete ANS course was associated with significantly lower rates of surfactant-treated respiratory disease compared to partial (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.52-0.74) and no ANS (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.41-0.66).
  • Complete ANS exposure also demonstrated the lowest rates of severe intracranial hemorrhage (0.8%) and delivery room resuscitation (1.2%).

Conclusions:

  • Antenatal corticosteroid exposure in MPT infants is linked to reduced rates of delivery room resuscitation, surfactant-treated respiratory disease, and severe intracranial hemorrhage.
  • A complete course of ANS is associated with the lowest frequency of these neonatal morbidities.
  • These findings underscore the importance of complete antenatal corticosteroid administration for improving outcomes in moderately preterm infants.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs08:58

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs

Published on: October 31, 2025

663
Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice04:18

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Published on: October 10, 2025

539

Related Concept Videos

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids01:26

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...
831
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids01:25

Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are anti-inflammatory drugs used primarily in treating persistent asthma and providing long-term maintenance. They target the bronchial mucosa, the lining of the airways, to control inflammation, a critical factor in asthma progression and exacerbation.
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
1.6K
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
324
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships. 
50.0K
Nuclear Power02:36

Nuclear Power

Controlled nuclear fission reactions are used to generate electricity. Any nuclear reactor that produces power via the fission of uranium or plutonium by bombardment with neutrons has six components: nuclear fuel consisting of fissionable material, a nuclear moderator, a neutron source, control rods, reactor coolant, and a shield and containment system.
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuel consists of a fissile isotope, such as uranium-235, which must be present in sufficient quantity to provide a...
9.5K
Ecological Disturbance02:26

Ecological Disturbance

An ecological disturbance is a temporary disruption in the environment resulting from abiotic, biotic, or anthropogenic factors, causing a pronounced change in an ecosystem. The impact of an ecological disturbance, which can depend on its intensity, frequency, and spatial distribution, plays a significant role in shaping the species diversity within the ecosystem.
21.1K