Neonatal Dexamethasone Treatment for Chronic Lung Disease of Prematurity Alters the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Immune System Activity at School Age

Abstract

Neonatal treatment of prematurely born children with dexamethasone but not with hydrocortisone resulted in long-lasting programming effects on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and on the T-helper 1/T-helper 2 cytokine balance. Follow-up of these children is required to investigate long-term clinical consequences. We recommend that authors of previously performed randomized, controlled trials on neonatal glucocorticoid treatment include immune and neuroendocrine analyses in prolonged follow-up of these children.