The place of antenatal corticosteroids in late preterm and early term births

Abstract

Infants born in the late preterm period and via non-labour caesarean section in the early term period are at increased risk of respiratory morbidity when compared to their term-born counterparts. The morbidity in these infants is less frequent and severe than in early preterm infants. Antenatal corticosteroids reduce respiratory morbidity in these populations; however, the magnitude of the reduction appears to be small and predominantly in the self-limiting condition of transient tachypnoea of the neonate. The smaller benefit, along with possible harmful effects of corticosteroids, raises a question about the role of antenatal corticosteroids in this population. Special obstetric populations..