Use of glucocorticoids in pregnancies complicated by severe hypertension and proteinuria

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Abstract
During a 2-year period, 56 infants of less than 34 weeks gestation were delivered from 53 pregnancies complicated by severe hypertension and proteinuria. In the first part of the study 32 infants were delivered whose mothers did not receive antepartum glucocorticoids; subsequently 24 infants were born whose mothers did receive antepartum glucocorticoids. The severity of maternal disease, gestational age at delivery, birthweight and obstetric management was similar in both groups. In the group receiving glucocorticoids 88% of the infants were discharged live from the neonatal unit compared with 72% in the group who did not receive corticosteroids. It is concluded that in pregnancies complicated by severe hypertension and proteinuria requiring delivery before 34 completed weeks of pregnancy, the administration of antepartum glucocorticoids to the mother does not carry an increased risk to the fetus, and may be of benefit by reducing the risk of idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome and subsequent intraventricular haemorrhage.

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