Steroid "rescue dose" good for early births

US researchers presented findings that show that premature babies, born before 34 weeks, have a 31% reduction in serious complications when  given a "rescue course" of antenatal corticosteroids, at the Society for  Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting .

Years ago doctors gave multiple courses of antenatal steroids to mothers  who were at risk for delivering prematurely. However, certain studies  found that there were possible adverse affects to multiple ACS courses  because babies were found to have slightly smaller head circumferences  and lower birth weights. As a result the National Institutes of Health  recommended further study.

Results of the study showed a significant reduction in composite  neonatal morbidity for babies born prior to 34 weeks in the "rescue  steroid" group versus placebo (43.9% vs 63.6%), as well as a significant  decrease in respiratory distress syndrome, ventilator support, and  surfactant use. When all neonates were included in the analysis  (regardless of the gestational age at delivery), a significant reduction  in composite morbidity in the "rescue steroid" group was still  demonstrated (32.1% vs 42.6%).