Assessment of Thyroid Functions in Late Preterm Infants of Mothers on Antenatal Steroids

Abstract

reterm delivery has increased in frequency especially late preterm delivery which represent nearly 70% of preterm delivery. It is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Nowadays, antenatal corticosteroids become standard practice to obstetricians to pregnant women with threatened preterm delivery and recent studies suggest this practice in late preterm delivery. So, in our work, we evaluated the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on thyroid function in late preterm infants. The present cross-sectional study included 90 late preterm infants admitted in NICU, El-Demerdash hospital, Ain Shams University, within one year and divided to three groups according to exposure to antenatal corticosteroids:  Group A exposed to complete course of antenatal steroids within 2-7 days before delivery. Complete course consists of two doses of 12 mg of betamethasone given intramuscularly 24 hours apart and included 30 cases.  Group B received one dose of betamethasone and included 30 cases.  Group C who was not exposed to antenatal steroids and included 30 cases.