[The behaviour of endocrinal parameters under prophylaxis of hyaline membrane disease with glucocorticoids (author's...

Prevention of hyaline membrane disease with glucocorticoids produces suppression of the hypopituitary-adrenocortical axis of the mother as well as of the foetus. The extent of the suppression is significantly higher under medication with the 9 alpha-fluorinated preparations, betamethasone and dexamethasone, than under medication with 16-methyleneprednisolone. Increases in the concentration levels of the mineralocorticoid DOC are to be expected in 37% to 50% of the patients, depending on the administered corticoid. The percentage of increase is 150% under 16-methyleneprednisolone and 220% under betamethasone and dexamethasone.