Commentary: Antenatal corticosteroid prophylaxis in late preterms- short- and long-term effects and many open questions.

Abstract

Antenatal corticosteroids are a well-established treatment for fetal lung maturation before 34 + 0 weeks of gestation. The administration of dexamethasone and betamethasone in late preterm - between 34 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks of gestation - is still highly debated and subject of recent research. This topic was recently addressed by a retrospective observational cohort study aiming to investigate the benefits, short- and long-term risks of the application of antenatal corticosteroids in the late preterm phase. This commentary will discuss the main findings of the article and its implications for further research.