The effect of betamethasone administration to pregnant women on maternal serum indicators of infection
-
E. Vaisbuch
Abstract
Objective: To study the effect of betamethasone therapy on maternal white blood cell count, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in women at high risk for preterm delivery.
Study design: We included women at gestational age of 24 to 34 weeks who were treated by betamethasone for enhancement of fetal lung maturity, because of imminent preterm labor with intact membranes. Blood tests for white blood cell and differential count, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were drawn before betamethasone injection, 2 hours after, and then every 24 hours for three days.
Results: 105 women were included. The mean white blood cell count increased by 33% on day one, and returned to baseline level three days after the first injection of betamethasone. A significant rise in neutrophil count, and drop in lymphocyte count was noted as early as two hours after the first injection and lasted for two days. Mean C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels were not changed significantly by betamethasone treatment.
Conclusions: Antenatal betamethasone therapy causes a transient increase in maternal leukocyte count but has no effect on serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This information is relevant for preterm pregnant women who are at high risk for chorioamnionitis.
Copyright © 2002 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
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- Congress Calendar
- WAPM-Newsletter No 2/2002
Articles in the same Issue
- Taurine and taurine-deficiency in the perinatal period
- The effect of betamethasone administration to pregnant women on maternal serum indicators of infection
- Chorioamnionitis: Elevated interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 concentrations in the lower uterine segment
- Tyrphostins inhibit lipopolysaccharide induced preterm labor in mice
- Amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 and the development of cerebral palsy
- Echocardiographic screening for congenital heart disease: a randomized study
- Maternal obesity not maternal glucose values correlates best with high rates of fetal macrosomia in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes
- Increased endothelial thrombomodulin (TM) expression in pregnancies complicated by IUGR
- Serum amyloid A protein in the early detection of late-onset bacterial sepsis in preterm infants
- Carbon dioxide levels do not predict duration of home oxygen requirement: a retrospective study
- A congenital anterior diaphragmatic hernia with massive pericardial effusion requiring neither emergency pericardiocentesis nor operation. A case report and review of the literature
- Extravascular collection of fluid around the vertebra resulting from malpositioning of a peripherally inserted central venous catheter in extremely low birth weight infants
- Placental boost to varicella-zoster antibodies in the newborn
- Enhancing decision-making by depressed pregnant patients
- Congress Calendar
- WAPM-Newsletter No 2/2002
