Association Between Antenatal Corticosteroid Administration and Neonatal Glycemic Status

Alaa Nasar, Engy Khedr, Badr Al-Din Mesbah, Abdelmoneim Khashana

Abstract

Background and Aim: Antenatal corticosteroids are recommended to improve neonatal outcomes; however, their usage is associated with the development of neonatal hypoglycemia. We aimed to assess the association between the administration of antenatal corticosteroids and the increased risk of developing neonatal hypoglycemia within the first 48 hours of life.

Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted on 80 preterm neonates delivered between 31 and 36 weeks of gestation. The neonates were divided 2 groups: (1) case group, which included preterm neonates whose mothers received antenatal corticosteroids, and (2) control group, which included preterm neonates whose mothers did not receive antenatal corticosteroids. The study compared the outcomes of 2 antenatal corticosteroid regimens: (1) 2 doses of 12 mg of betamethasone given intramuscularly in a 24-hour interval, and (2) 4 doses of 6 mg of dexamethasone given intramuscularly in 12-hour intervals.

Results: The incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia within 48 hours of life was not statistically significantly different between those neonates whose mothers received antenatal corticosteroids and those neonates whose mothers did not receive. Our study results show that the occurrence of hypoglycemia was more in the first 4 hours of life in neonates whose mothers received betamethasone, and the occurrence of hypoglycemia was more from 4 to 48 hours in neonates whose mothers received dexamethasone.

Conclusion: Our study results conclude that administration of antenatal corticosteroids does not increase the risk of the neonates developing hypoglycemia within the first 48 hours of life in preterm neonates.