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26/01/2015

Steroids Do Not Affect Babies' Development - Study

A new study has found that repeated doses of steroids given to premature babies before their birth will not affect their long-term development.

The study, by the University of Auckland and which has been published in the journal Pediatrics, said it hopes the findings will be able to help more premature babies.

It is thought many doctors have been reluctant to issue repeat antenatal steroids to pregnant women who are at risk of going into labour before 32 weeks, over fears that exposing babies to the medication could increase their risk of developing long-term conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.

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For this study, the cardiovascular and metabolic function of 258 children in New Zealand were looked at. The children were between the ages of six and eight, and had been exposed to repeat steroids – or a controlled placebo treatment – prior to their birth. It was found that repeat doses of antenatal steroids do not increase the health risk factors in children of an early school age.

Explaining the results, Dr Chris McKinlay, a neonatologist and researcher from the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland, said: "The study shows that the treatment is safe. Clinicians wishing to use repeat antenatal steroids can be reassured that the risk of future cardiovascular and metabolic disease from this therapy is low."

(JP/CD)

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"A new study has found that repeated doses of steroids given to premature babies before their birth will not affect their long-term development."