TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of antenatal glucocorticoid therapy on arterial and venous blood flow velocity waveforms in severely growth-restricted fetuses
AU - Wijnberger, L. D. E.
AU - Bilardo, C. M.
AU - Hecher, K.
AU - Stigter, R. H.
AU - Visser, G. H. A.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Objective: To study the effects of antenatal glucocorticoid (betamethasone) therapy on blood flow velocity waveform patterns in the umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and ductus venosus (DV) in severely intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses. Methods: Fifty-five severely IUGR fetuses at 24-34 weeks of gestation were included in the study. The effect of antenatal glucocorticoid administration on Doppler findings in the UA, MCA and DV was studied using two statistical approaches, namely paired sample analysis and multilevel analysis. Results: There were no effects of betamethasone on the pulsatility index (PI) of the vessels studied. The only changes noticed during the 14 days of observation were a gradual decrease of PI in the MCA, an increase in the UA-PI/MCA-PI ratio and an increase in the DV-PI. These changes with time may be explained by a progressive and gradual deterioration of the fetal condition. Conclusion: Antenatal glucocorticoids (betamethasone) do not affect fetal Doppler waveform patterns of the UA, MCA and DV in severely IUGR fetuses. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
AB - Objective: To study the effects of antenatal glucocorticoid (betamethasone) therapy on blood flow velocity waveform patterns in the umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and ductus venosus (DV) in severely intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses. Methods: Fifty-five severely IUGR fetuses at 24-34 weeks of gestation were included in the study. The effect of antenatal glucocorticoid administration on Doppler findings in the UA, MCA and DV was studied using two statistical approaches, namely paired sample analysis and multilevel analysis. Results: There were no effects of betamethasone on the pulsatility index (PI) of the vessels studied. The only changes noticed during the 14 days of observation were a gradual decrease of PI in the MCA, an increase in the UA-PI/MCA-PI ratio and an increase in the DV-PI. These changes with time may be explained by a progressive and gradual deterioration of the fetal condition. Conclusion: Antenatal glucocorticoids (betamethasone) do not affect fetal Doppler waveform patterns of the UA, MCA and DV in severely IUGR fetuses. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=3042565254&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15170800
U2 - 10.1002/uog.1052
DO - 10.1002/uog.1052
M3 - Article
C2 - 15170800
VL - 23
SP - 584
EP - 589
JO - Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
JF - Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
SN - 0960-7692
IS - 6
ER -