Preventing The Complications of Premature Birth
Preventing the complications of premature birth prenatal therapy of corticosteroid administration significantly reduces respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (bleeding in brain) and infant death.
The most noticeable benefits concern the reduction of severe cases of RDS, a problem that affects 40 thousand children a year in the U.S. and that becomes the leading cause of infant mortality. The average duration in hospital was reduced and approximately one third of children were treated with corticosteroids.
This therapy has been available since 1972 but has ceased to be used is not very clear about the level of effectiveness and cases of treatment with potential complications.
However, after reviewing the scientific work and listen to some experts, one can conclude that corticosteroids generate many benefits for prenatal management and reduce potential risks.
Corticosteroids are hormones produced by the adrenal gland. These hormones have been synthesized and administered when the woman is pregnant, accelerating the maturation of specific organs, including lungs in the fetus.
The medication is effective in pregnant women between 24 and 34 weeks. Studies in children over age 12 who received treatment showed no adverse effects on motor skills, language, cognition, memory, concentration and academic performance.
Previously, antenatal corticosteroid treatments showed great effectiveness in mothers who were given the substance two or 7 days before delivery. There are still many areas of research: the biological mechanism of action of the hormone, the dissemination of clinical practice of this therapy and its impact on women with premature rupture of the uterine membranes.