Repeated ultrasound guided fetal injections of corticosteroid alter nervous system maturation in the ovine fetus
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Julie A. Quinlivan
Abstract
Introduction: Recent studies in sheep have shown that repeated maternal injections of betamethasone are associated with adverse effects within the nervous system. Repeated fetal injections of betamethasone achieve serial improvements in preterm lung function in sheep and are a possible alternative to repeated maternal therapy. We have evaluated the effect of repeated fetal administration of betamethasone on nervous system maturation in an ovine model.
Methods: Date-mated ewes (n = 48) were randomized to receive ultrasound-guided fetal injections of betamethasone or saline between days 104 to 124 of gestation and were delivered by cesarean section on day 125 or 145 (term = 150). Optic and sciatic nerves were pre- pared for light and electronmicroscopy. Eye diameters were measured and transverse sections of retinae were evaluated. Data were analyzed using a mixed model analysis of variance.
Results: Repeated fetal administration of corticosteroid did not significantly affect optic nerve myelination but resulted in significant delays in sciatic axonal growth (p < 0.02) and retinal maturation (p < 0.04). The process of performing repeated fetal injections also significantly affected some retinal parameters.
Conclusion: Repeated fetal administration of betamethasone alters some aspects of nervous system maturation in sheep. It is premature to plan trials of repeated fetal corticosteroid therapy in humans.
Copyright © 2001 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
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- WAPM-Newsletter No 1
Articles in the same Issue
- Malignant disease in pregnancy
- Repeated ultrasound guided fetal injections of corticosteroid alter nervous system maturation in the ovine fetus
- Incidence and birth weight characteristics of twins born to mothers aged 40 years or more compared with 35-39 years old mothers: a population study
- Lipopolysaccharide stimulation of 70 kilo Dalton heat shock protein messenger ribonucleic acid production in cultured human fetal membranes
- Effect of positive end expiratory pressure on functional residual capacity and compliance in surfactant-treated preterm infants
- Neonatal nucleated red blood cell counts in twins
- Normalisation of a severely abnormal ductus venosus Doppler flow velocity waveform in a growth-retarded fetus with absent end-diastolic flow in the umbilical artery and congenital anomalies
- Acute iliac vein thrombosis in pregnancy treated successfully by streptokinase lysis: a case report
- Liquid ventilation in an infant with persistent interstitial pulmonary emphysema
- Renal vein thrombosis in a newborn with prothrombotic genetic risk factors
- Fetal pulse oximetry allows safe continuation of labor in the presence of mild-moderate non reassuring CTG
- WAPM-Newsletter No 1
