Is antenatal steroid treatment effective in preterm IUGR fetuses?
There are no randomized studies on the effect of antenatal corticosteroids in preterm intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses. Fetal lung maturation has been postulated to be enhanced in these fetuses, which may result in little benefit of steroid treatment. Furthermore, corticosteroid treatment may be detrimental, as has been shown in IUGR animal models. The objective of this study was to review the available literature on antenatal steroid treatment of the IUGR fetus. All available reports on antenatal steroid treatment of IUGR and small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses published prior to October 2007 were included in this review. IUGR fetuses are a subgroup of SGA fetuses that are small due to placental insufficiency, which is reflected in abnormal Doppler examination of the umbilical artery. The main outcome measures were respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and neonatal mortality. No difference in neonatal
