Maternal corticosteroid use: effects on the fetus and neonate

Abstract

Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity and continues to be one of the most common complications plaguing obstetrics and neonatology. Primary prevention of preterm birth remains the ultimate but elusive goal. However, efforts to curtail the impact of preterm birth are of great importance. Use of antenatal corticosteroids (ACSs) in threatened preterm labor has been one of the landmark interventions that have improved the neonatal outcome. Since the start of use of ACS: the acceptance has increased dramatically and now it has become the standard of care in threatened preterm labor. However, there are still many unresolved issues surrounding the usage of ACS. In this article, we attempt to synthesize the current available evidence and its application in our daily clinical scenarios.