Study shows corticosteroids risk for premature babies

• Lin Huiqin, Zhong Zhiqiang/Staff reporters and special writers

Researchers found that corticosteroid injections given to expectant mothers to prevent respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants may increase the infant’s risk of sepsis, pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis and other serious infections by 1.22 to 1.52 times.

The study was conducted by Cai Huiru, a researcher at the National Institute of Population Health Sciences, Yao Zongjie, a doctor at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and others. Despite widespread use of this treatment, a cure is lacking.

For pregnant women at risk of preterm birth, antenatal corticosteroids are considered standard medication at 24 to 34 weeks of gestation to prevent neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, the study abstract said.

The study found that while the lungs are the primary target for this type of treatment, other systems such as the nervous system or immune system may also be affected.

“Recent observational cohort studies suggest that exposure to prenatal corticosteroids may be associated with long-term neurodevelopmental impairment in children,” the abstract reads.

The study examined all pregnant women and their offspring in Taiwan from 2008 to 2019, using statistical data from National Health Insurance studies, birth reports, and maternal and child health databases.

The study found that of 45,232 children exposed prenatally to corticosteroids, 18,148 (40.1%) were born at term and 27,084 (59.9%) were born prematurely.

The research team evaluated the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on serious infections at three stages of life: the first 3, 6 and 12 months of life.

The cumulative incidence of severe sepsis, pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis and pyelonephritis in children exposed to prenatal corticosteroids during the first 12 months of life was more significant than in children who were not exposed, the study said.

However, this study was not an attempt to stop the use of prenatal corticosteroids. Yao said it simply wanted to emphasize the safety of the treatment.

The benefits of treatment outweigh the benefits of none, and serious infections that result in children being hospitalized are rare, Tsai said.

Situ Huikang, director of the institute, said on Monday that the research is of great significance and will help form a benign treatment system for children.

This research has been submitted to british medical journal Released on June 12th, August 2nd.