Long-term childhood outcomes for babies born at term who were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal corticosteroids improve neonatal outcomes when administered to infants who are at risk of preterm delivery. Many women who receive antenatal corticosteroids for threatened preterm labor proceed to deliver at term. Thus, long-term outcomes should be evaluated for term-born infants who were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids in utero. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare long-term outcomes between term-born children aged ≥5 years who were born to women who received antenatal corticosteroids for threatened preterm labor and children whose mothers were also evaluated for threatened preterm labor but did not receive antenatal corticosteroids. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort study of children born at ≥37 weeks' gestation, aged ≥5 years, and born to mothers diagnosed with threatened preterm labor during pregnancy. The primary exposure of interest was receiving antenatal corticosteroids. Among the collected childhood medical conditions, the primary outcome of interest was a diagnosis of asthma. RESULTS: Of the 3556 term-born children aged ≥5 years, 629 (17.6%) were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids (all betamethasone), and 2927 (82.3%) were controls whose mothers were evaluated for threatened preterm birth but did not get antenatal corticosteroid injections. Women receiving antenatal corticosteroids had higher rates of maternal comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, hypertension; P≤.01). Antenatal corticosteroid-exposed children had no difference in diagnosis of asthma (12.6% vs 11.6%), attention deficit disorder, or developmental delay (P=.47, .54, and .10, respectively). Controlling for maternal and neonatal characteristics, asthma was not different between those exposed to antenatal corticosteroids and controls (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-1.39). The odds of the child's weight percentile being <10% were increased for antenatal corticosteroid-exposed children born at term (odds ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-3.25). CONCLUSION: Children born at term who were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids may have increased odds of being in a lower growth percentile than those not exposed. However, rates of diagnoses such as asthma, developmental delay, and attention deficit disorders were not different.

Substitution of standard soybean oil with olive oil-based lipid emulsion in parenteral nutrition: comparison of vascular, metabolic, and inflammatory effects.

CONTEXT: Soybean oil-based lipid emulsions are the only Food and Drug Administration-approved lipid formulation for clinical use in parenteral nutrition (PN). Recently concerns with its use have been raised due to the proinflammatory effects that may lead to increased complications because they are rich in ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, crossover study comparing the vascular, metabolic, immune, and inflammatory effects of 24-h infusion of PN containing soybean oil-based lipid emulsion (Intralipid), olive oil-based (ClinOleic), lipid free, and normal saline in 12 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Soybean oil-PN increased systolic blood pressure compared with olive oil-PN (P < 0.05). Soybean oil PN reduced brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation from baseline (-23% at 4 h and -25% at 24 h, both P < 0.01); in contrast, olive oil PN, lipid free PN, and saline did not change either systolic blood pressure or flow-mediated dilatation. Compared with saline, soybean oil PN, olive oil PN, and lipid free PN similarly increased glucose and insulin concentrations during infusion (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in plasma free fatty acids, lipid profile, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, immune function parameters, or sympathetic activity between soybean oil- and olive oil-based lipid emulsions. CONCLUSION: The 24-h infusion of PN containing soybean oil-based lipid emulsion increased blood pressure and impaired endothelial function compared with PN containing olive oil-based lipid emulsion and lipid-free PN in healthy subjects. These vascular changes may have significant implications in worsening outcome in subjects receiving nutrition support. Randomized controlled trials with relevant clinical outcome measures are needed in patients receiving PN with olive oil-based and soybean oil-based lipid emulsions.