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Should we use an ‘accelerated’ course of antenatal corticosteroids?
  1. Abhijeet Anant Rakshasbhuvankar
  1. Neonatal Paediatrics, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women Perth, Subiaco, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Abhijeet Anant Rakshasbhuvankar; abhijeet.rakshasbhuvankar{at}health.wa.gov.au

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2024-327476

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    A single course of antenatal corticosteroids (ANCs), when administered to women at risk of preterm birth, reduces perinatal and neonatal deaths and respiratory distress syndrome. The course probably also reduces the risk of intraventricular haemorrhage and improves neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring. Commonly used regimens of ANC consist of intramuscular injections of betamethasone 12 mg two doses 24 hours apart and dexamethasone in either two doses of 12 mg 24 hours apart or four doses of 6 mg every 12 hours. Therefore, the course’s complete administration takes at least 24 hours.

    However, many times, preterm delivery is imminent and cannot be delayed for the completion of steroids. An observational study from Australia reported that 45% of pregnant women referred to tertiary hospitals …

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors AR conceptualised, drafted and edited the manuscript, and prepared the final draft.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.