How safe is long-term prenatal glucocorticoid treatment?
GLUCOCORTICOIDS are commonly used in obstetric practice, both for maternal
immunosuppression and for shortterm treatment of the fetus, usually to accelerate lung
maturation when there is threatened preterm delivery. The immediate benefits of short-term
prepartum glucocorticoid therapy in maturing the fetal lung and reducing neonatal mortality
are clearly supported by controlled studies. 1, 2 Recently, long-term prenatal therapy of
fetuses potentially affected with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) has been advocated …
immunosuppression and for shortterm treatment of the fetus, usually to accelerate lung
maturation when there is threatened preterm delivery. The immediate benefits of short-term
prepartum glucocorticoid therapy in maturing the fetal lung and reducing neonatal mortality
are clearly supported by controlled studies. 1, 2 Recently, long-term prenatal therapy of
fetuses potentially affected with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) has been advocated …