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Respiratory Compliance in Late Preterm Infants (340/7-346/7 Weeks) after Antenatal Steroid Therapy

Mitzi Go1, Diane Schilling1, Thuan Nguyen2

  • 1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|June 30, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Antenatal steroids significantly improved respiratory compliance in late preterm infants (34-34 weeks gestation). Treated infants required less respiratory support, suggesting benefits of antenatal steroids.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Late preterm infants (34-34 weeks) face respiratory challenges.
  • Antenatal steroid exposure is known to accelerate fetal lung maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare respiratory compliance in late preterm infants exposed to antenatal steroids versus those not exposed.
  • To evaluate the impact of antenatal steroids on respiratory support needs in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Single-center prospective cohort study.
  • Matching of infants based on birth weight, gestational age, race, and sex.
  • Respiratory compliance measured using the single breath occlusion technique.

Main Results:

  • Infants receiving antenatal steroids showed significantly increased respiratory compliance (compliance/kg).
  • Treated infants required less continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and supplemental oxygen (>24 hours).
  • No significant difference in surfactant therapy use was observed between groups.

Conclusions:

  • Antenatal steroids significantly enhance respiratory compliance in late preterm infants (34-34 weeks).
  • These findings provide physiological support for the benefits of antenatal steroid administration in this vulnerable group.
  • Further research, potentially randomized trials, could confirm these beneficial effects.
Abstract

Keywords:
antenatal corticosteroidsbetamethasonepremature infantspulmonary functionrespiratory compliance

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