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Constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus during prenatal betamethasone therapy
A Azancot-Benisty1, J L Benifla, A Matias
1Prenatal Cardiovascular Physiology Department, Hospital Robert Debré, Paris, France.
Background:
Constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus occurs with maternal indomethacin treatment and has been suggested with corticosteroid therapy as well.
Case:
Fetal ductal constriction was diagnosed by Doppler echocardiography at 29 weeks' gestation after a third and fourth course of betamethasone was administered to a pregnant woman with placenta previa. Doppler echocardiography showed a patent ductus arteriosus 3 days after the treatment.
Conclusion:
The risk-benefit ratio of betamethasone should be assessed by large-scale studies when repeated courses or chronic maternal administration of betamethasone are required.