Dataset Information
Dose-response effects of betamethasone on maturation of the fetal sheep lung.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
Glucocorticoid administration to women in preterm labor improves neonatal mortality and morbidity. Fetal exposure to glucocorticoid levels higher than those appropriate to the current gestational stage has multiple organ system effects. Some, eg, fetal hypertension, are maximal at lower than the clinical dose. We hypothesized that the clinical dose has supramaximal lung maturational effects.Study design
We evaluated the full, half, and quarter clinical betamethasone dose (12 mg/70 kg or 170 microg/kg intramuscularly twice 24 hours apart) on fetal sheep lung pressure volume curves (PVC) after 48 hours' exposure at 0.75 gestation. We measured key messenger RNAs and protein products that affect lung function and total lung dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline.Results
Full and half doses had similar PVC and total lung dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline effects. Messenger RNA for surfactant proteins A, B, and D and elastin increased in a dose-dependent fashion.Conclusion
Half the clinical betamethasone dose produces maximal PVC improvement in fetal sheep at 0.75 gestation.
SUBMITTER: Loehle M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2815247 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Dose-response effects of betamethasone on maturation of the fetal sheep lung.
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 20091221 2
<h4>Objective</h4>Glucocorticoid administration to women in preterm labor improves neonatal mortality and morbidity. Fetal exposure to glucocorticoid levels higher than those appropriate to the current gestational stage has multiple organ system effects. Some, eg, fetal hypertension, are maximal at lower than the clinical dose. We hypothesized that the clinical dose has supramaximal lung maturational effects.<h4>Study design</h4>We evaluated the full, half, and quarter clinical betamethasone dos ...[more]