Antenatal corticosteroids and outcome at 14 years of age in children with birth weight less than 1501 grams.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether exposure to antenatal corticosteroid therapy was associated with adverse effects on growth, sensorineural outcome, or lung function of children of birth weight 1 course of corticosteroids. OUTCOME MEASURES: The children were assessed at 14 years of age, corrected for prematurity. All assessors were unaware of the exposure of the child to antenatal corticosteroids. The assessments included measurements of growth and neurological, cognitive, and lung function. Growth measurements were converted into z scores (standard deviation) for the appropriate age and gender. RESULTS: Of the 154 survivors, 130 (84%) were assessed at 14 years of age. Overall, the children ex..