Abstract
Objective:
To compare the effects of antenatal administration of dexamethasone and betamethasone,
used in two different regimens, on fetal Doppler flow velocities.
Study design:
Sixty-seven women at risk for preterm delivery received course of corticosteroids
by means of a computer-generated randomization table. The Doppler examination of the
pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical artery (UA), the middle cerebral artery (MCA)
and the middle cerebral artery/umbilical artery PI ratio (MCA PI/UA PI) were performed
before treatment, 24 and 72 h after the first dose of corticosteroids. The SAS system was used to perform statistical
analysis.
Results:
No significant change was observed in UA PI through dexamethasone therapy. In MCA
there was a significant decrease in PI at 72 h (2 ± 0.43 before and 1.68 ± 0.31 after, p = 0.0001). Similarly a significant decrease in MCA PI/UA PI ratio was noted (2.09 ± 0.51 before and 1.83 ± 0.4 after, p = 0.0137). No significant changes were observed in UA PI, MCA PI and MCA PI/UA PI ratio
during betamethasone treatment.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate significant decrease in fetal middle cerebral artery impedance
at 72 h after maternal administration of the first dose of dexamethasone. Effects of dexamethasone
on fetal brain warrants further research.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 23,
2004
Received in revised form:
September 4,
2004
Received:
June 14,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
