[Antenatal betamethasone during pregnancy with severe diabetes: is better worse than good?]

Arch Pediatr. 2007 Aug;14(8):989-92. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2007.03.025. Epub 2007 Apr 24.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Diabetic pregnancy is a precarious situation, both for mother and fetus, because it increases the risk of prematurity and respiratory distress. We report 3 cases of severe acute complications following antenatal betamethasone treatment in mothers presenting with severe diabetes. Corticosteroids are strongly recommended to prevent prematurity complications in newborns. We highlight the high risk profile of theses pregnancies, the effect of this treatment on the mother and the child, and question the real benefit of corticotherapy for these fragile newborns. The metabolic and blood pressure balance is dangerously disturbed in such pregnancies by this treatment. This brings the question of how justified are corticosteroids in such cases?

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Betamethasone / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hyaline Membrane Disease / drug therapy
  • Hyaline Membrane Disease / etiology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / etiology
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Paraparesis, Spastic / drug therapy
  • Paraparesis, Spastic / etiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Diabetics / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy, High-Risk
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Betamethasone