A preterm infant benefits from antenatal corticosteroids. What outcome do they improve?

A preterm infant benefits from antenatal corticosteroids. What outcome do they improve?

• A. Lung maturity and decreased risk of respiratory distress syndrome.
• B. Increased risk of infection in the newborn.
• C. Longer hospitalization due to slower organ maturation.
• D. No significant neonatal benefit.

Answer: (A)

Antennatal corticosteroids speed up fetal lung maturation by stimulating surfactant production in the developing lungs. This surge in surfactant lowers surface tension, improves alveolar expansion after birth, and reduces the risk that the newborn’s lungs will collapse or fail to oxygenate properly. Clinically, this translates to better lung maturity and a lower risk of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. The benefit is time-sensitive, with the strongest protection if delivery occurs within a week or so after completing the course.

Antennatal corticosteroids speed up fetal lung maturation by stimulating surfactant production in the developing lungs. This surge in surfactant lowers surface tension, improves alveolar expansion after birth, and reduces the risk that the newborn’s lungs will collapse or fail to oxygenate properly. Clinically, this translates to better lung maturity and a lower risk of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. The benefit is time-sensitive, with the strongest protection if delivery occurs within a week or so after completing the course.