Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.. Published Online First: 5 May 2005. doi:10.1136/adc.2005.071688
Original articles |
Antenatal steroids and fluid balance in very low birthweight infants
1 Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: anne.greenough{at}kcl.ac.uk.
Accepted 2 May 2005
Abstract
Objectives:To determine if insensible water loss (IWL) differed between infants exposed or unexposed antenatally to corticosteroids and to explore possible mechanisms for the early postnatal diuresis associated with antenatal steroid exposure.
Design:Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.
Setting:Level three neonatal intensive care unit Patients: Ninety-six infants, median gestational age 27.5 (range 23-33) weeks.
Main outcome measures:Comparison of the IWL, urine output and osmolality, fluid input, electrolyte imbalance, respiratory illness severity (as assessed by surfactant requirement, maximum peak inspiratory pressure and inspired oxygen concentration) and cardiovascular status (as assessed by inotrope requirement) between infants with antenatal corticosteroid exposure and gestational age matched controls.
Results:The infants exposed to antenatal steroids differed significantly from the controls in having both a lower IWL (p=0.0135) and a higher urine output (p=0.0036) on day one and fewer developed hyponatraemia (p=0.027) on day two. Fewer of those exposed to antenatal steroids required inotropes (p=0.035), but their respiratory status was similar to that of the controls.
Conclusions:Infants exposed to antenatal corticosteroids have a lower insensible water loss. Our results suggest that greater skin maturation, but also better perfusion rather than less severe respiratory status explains the early diuresis in infants exposed to antenatal steroids.
Keywords: antenatal fluid balance, corticosteroids, insensible water loss, prematurity
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Allegaert, K, Debeer, A
(2006). Circulatory effects of antenatal betamethasone therapy in low birthweight infants.. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.
91: F389-F390
[Full Text] -
Allegaert, K, Anderson, B
(2006). Antenatal steroids and neonatal renal function.. Arch. Dis. Child.
91: 451-451
[Full Text]
eLetters:
Read all eLetters
- Antenatal steroids and neonatal renal function
- Karel Allegaert
- Fetal Neonatal Ed. Online, 8 Dec 2005 [Full text]
- Full Text (Rapid PDF)
-
All Versions of this Article:
adc.2005.071688v1
90/6/F509 most recent - Submit a response
- Read responses to this article
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in ADC Online
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
