OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the effects of repeated courses of antenatal corticosteroids on childhood behavior and disabilities, including cognitive delay and cerebral palsy. STUDY DESIGN: Nonrandomized regional cohort of 541 very preterm infants born in Western Australia from singleton pregnancies and alive at 3 years were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical, cognitive, and psychological assessments up to 6 years. RESULTS: Increasing numbers of antenatal corticosteroid courses were associated with a reduction in the rate of cerebral palsy. Three or more courses were also associated with increased rates of aggressive/destructive, distractible, and hyperkinetic behavior and these effects were present at both ages 3 and 6 years. Measures of internalizing behavior and intelligence quotient were unaffected by antenatal corticosteroid use. CONCLUSION: Repeated antenatal courses of corticosteroids may protect against cerebral palsy but are associated with hyperactivity later in childhood.
%0 Journal Article
%1 French2004
%A French, Noel P
%A Hagan, Ronald
%A Evans, Sharon F
%A Mullan, Annie
%A Newnham, John P
%D 2004
%J Am J Obstet Gynecol
%K Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Aging; Cerebral Palsy; Child Behavior; Child, Preschool; Cognition; Disability Evaluation; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Hyperkinesis; Neuropsychological Tests; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care
%N 3
%P 588--595
%R 10.1016/j.ajog.2003.12.016
%T Repeated antenatal corticosteroids: effects on cerebral palsy and childhood behavior.
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2003.12.016
%V 190
%X OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the effects of repeated courses of antenatal corticosteroids on childhood behavior and disabilities, including cognitive delay and cerebral palsy. STUDY DESIGN: Nonrandomized regional cohort of 541 very preterm infants born in Western Australia from singleton pregnancies and alive at 3 years were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical, cognitive, and psychological assessments up to 6 years. RESULTS: Increasing numbers of antenatal corticosteroid courses were associated with a reduction in the rate of cerebral palsy. Three or more courses were also associated with increased rates of aggressive/destructive, distractible, and hyperkinetic behavior and these effects were present at both ages 3 and 6 years. Measures of internalizing behavior and intelligence quotient were unaffected by antenatal corticosteroid use. CONCLUSION: Repeated antenatal courses of corticosteroids may protect against cerebral palsy but are associated with hyperactivity later in childhood.
@article{French2004,
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the effects of repeated courses of antenatal corticosteroids on childhood behavior and disabilities, including cognitive delay and cerebral palsy. STUDY DESIGN: Nonrandomized regional cohort of 541 very preterm infants born in Western Australia from singleton pregnancies and alive at 3 years were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical, cognitive, and psychological assessments up to 6 years. RESULTS: Increasing numbers of antenatal corticosteroid courses were associated with a reduction in the rate of cerebral palsy. Three or more courses were also associated with increased rates of aggressive/destructive, distractible, and hyperkinetic behavior and these effects were present at both ages 3 and 6 years. Measures of internalizing behavior and intelligence quotient were unaffected by antenatal corticosteroid use. CONCLUSION: Repeated antenatal courses of corticosteroids may protect against cerebral palsy but are associated with hyperactivity later in childhood.},
added-at = {2014-07-19T19:29:03.000+0200},
author = {French, Noel P and Hagan, Ronald and Evans, Sharon F and Mullan, Annie and Newnham, John P},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2e3ecdb6e45d29a91bc3b89333123e108/ar0berts},
doi = {10.1016/j.ajog.2003.12.016},
groups = {public},
interhash = {5b39f415fc9c1088f732627a3654eb99},
intrahash = {e3ecdb6e45d29a91bc3b89333123e108},
journal = {Am J Obstet Gynecol},
keywords = {Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Aging; Cerebral Palsy; Child Behavior; Child, Preschool; Cognition; Disability Evaluation; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Hyperkinesis; Neuropsychological Tests; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care},
month = Mar,
number = 3,
pages = {588--595},
pii = {S0002937803021410},
pmid = {15041985},
timestamp = {2014-07-19T19:29:03.000+0200},
title = {Repeated antenatal corticosteroids: effects on cerebral palsy and childhood behavior.},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2003.12.016},
username = {ar0berts},
volume = 190,
year = 2004
}