Cerebral palsy, a non-progressive motor condition usually seen and diagnosed among children, has been linked to long-term steroids use. The corticosteroid betamethasone is a common treatment for premature babies. It is used to speed up the maturation of their lungs. Studies also showed that it can also help reduce the incidence of death among premature infants due to intracranial hemorrhage.
Obstetricians frequently administer repeated courses of steroids in women who remained pregnant after the initial course. However, no study was ever conducted to prove any benefits or safety of this long-term steroid administration.
A team of researchers, led by Ronald Wapner, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Columbia University Medical Center and attending obstetrician and gynecologist at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, conducted multiple studies regarding the effects of long-term steroids use in children whose mothers received multiple courses of steroids during pregnancy.
The study involved pregnant women who were at risk for premature delivery, and who were given an initial dose of corticosteroids. After the first dose, the women were given either placebo or corticosteroids on a weekly basis until they gave birth. A higher incidence of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy was seen among those whose mothers received steroids than those who only received placebo. Researchers concluded that long-term steroids treatment must be given with precaution to pregnant women as it may do more harm than good.
According to Eurekalert:
NEW YORK – Repeated courses of a drug that is used to improve the survival of unborn premature babies also may increase the risk of cerebral palsy in those children, according to results from a multi-center study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and led by Ronald Wapner, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center and attending obstetrician and gynecologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia.
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