Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

88.2K

Neonatal steroid exposure and body composition in preterm infants at discharge

Megan K Kraemer1, Tricia J Johnson2, Katherine A Bell3

  • 1Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA. megan_kraemer@rush.edu.

Pediatric Research
|February 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Corticosteroid exposure in very preterm infants was not significantly associated with altered body composition z-scores at NICU discharge. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a feasible method for assessing body composition in this vulnerable population.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Body Composition Analysis

Background:

  • Corticosteroids are commonly used in very preterm (VPT) infants, but their effects on body composition (adiposity and lean mass) are not well understood.
  • Potential impacts include increased fat mass and decreased lean mass, necessitating further investigation in VPT populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between corticosteroid exposure and body composition in very preterm infants.
  • To determine if corticosteroid use affects fat mass (FM), %FM, and fat-free mass (FFM) in VPT infants at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 62 infants with gestational age <32 weeks or birth weight <1500 grams.
  • Body composition assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) at NICU discharge.
  • Comparison of body composition indices between steroid-exposed and non-exposed groups, with adjustments for postmenstrual age and sex using z-scores.

Main Results:

  • Fourteen infants (22.5%) received steroid exposure.
  • Steroid-exposed infants showed higher absolute FM, %FM, and FFM compared to non-exposed infants.
  • No significant differences in FM, %FM, or FFM z-scores were observed between the groups after adjustment.

Conclusions:

  • Steroid exposure in VPT infants was not significantly associated with altered body composition z-scores at NICU discharge.
  • Observed differences in absolute body composition measures likely reflect longer hospitalization and later postmenstrual age at discharge in the steroid-exposed group.
  • Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a feasible tool for assessing body composition in the NICU setting.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Intratracheal Instillation of Stem Cells in Term Neonatal Rats04:27

Intratracheal Instillation of Stem Cells in Term Neonatal Rats

Published on: May 4, 2020

6.2K
A Neonatal BALB/c Mouse Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis05:39

A Neonatal BALB/c Mouse Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Published on: November 30, 2021

4.2K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
381
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...
423
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
315
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
336
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
4.4K
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion01:20

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion

Drug metabolism, a critical process in the liver, involves two primary phases: Phase I reactions and Phase II conjugation. Obesity introduces significant alterations in this metabolic process, primarily due to fatty infiltration of the liver, leading to conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition can modify the activities of both Phase I and II enzymes, impacting how drugs are metabolized in obese patients.Phase I metabolism sees variable effects across...
250