Decreased Respiratory Compliance in Infants Less Than or Equal to 32 Weeks' Gestation, Delivered More Than 7 Days After Antenatal Steroid Therapy

Abstract

Infants who were < or = 32 weeks' gestation and remotely treated with antenatal steroids (average 21 days) had a significantly lower respiratory compliance compared with matched infants who were ideally treated with antenatal steroids. We speculate that the lower respiratory system compliance may reflect the dissipation of beneficial effects of antenatal steroids on pulmonary function when delivery occurs > 7 days after therapy and particularly when therapy is > 14 days before delivery.