Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Intramuscular and Oral Betamethasone and Dexamethasone in Reproductive Age Women in India

A comprehensive review on glucocorticoids induced osteoporosis: A medication caused disease

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones that are extensively used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammation, and cancer. The major ill effect of administering GCs is that it has a deleterious effect on bone, which leads to GC-induced osteoporosis. GC therapy induces bone loss and is associated with the risk of nonvertebral and vertebral fractures, as it works in combination by increasing bone reabsorption and suppressing bone formation during the initial phase of therapy. It is seen and established that GC in excess or in low dose for 3 months or more can be a risk factor for fracture, and the risk increases with an increase in dose and duration of usage. The most common cause of secondary osteoporosis is the administration of GC inside the body to treat various diseases. The degree of bone loss is directly proportional to the GC dose and the exposure duration. The first step is to evaluate the patients' risk factors for the development of glucocorticoids that induce osteoporosis, which include the dose, duration of use, patient age, sex, previous fractures, and other medical conditions.

Comprehensive analysis of prohibited substances and methods in sports: Unveiling trends, pharmacokinetics, and WADA evolution

This review systematically compiles sports-related drugs, substances, and methodologies based on the most frequently detected findings from prohibited lists published annually by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) between 2003 and 2021. Aligned with structure of the 2023 prohibited list, it covers all proscribed items and details the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of five representatives from each section. Notably, it explores significant metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with these substances. Adverse analytical findings are summarized in tables for clarity, and the prevalence is visually represented through charts. The review includes a concise historical overview of doping and WADA's role, examining modifications in the prohibited list for an understanding of evolving anti-doping measures.

Changes in Maternal Heart Rate Variability and Photoplethysmography Morphology after Corticosteroid Administration: A Prospective, Observational Study

Background: Owing to the association between dysfunctional maternal autonomic regulation and pregnancy complications, assessing non-invasive features reflecting autonomic activity-e.g., heart rate variability (HRV) and the morphology of the photoplethysmography (PPG) pulse wave-may aid in tracking maternal health. However, women with early pregnancy complications typically receive medication, such as corticosteroids, and the effect of corticosteroids on maternal HRV and PPG pulse wave morphology is not well-researched. Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study assessing the effect of betamethasone (a commonly used corticosteroid) on non-invasively assessed features of autonomic regulation. Sixty-one women with an indication for betamethasone were enrolled and wore a wrist-worn PPG device for at least four days, from which five-minute measurements were selected for analysis. A baseline measurement was selected either before betamethasone administration or sufficiently thereafter (i.e., three days after the last injection). Furthermore, measurements were selected 24, 48, and 72 h after betamethasone administration. HRV features in the time domain and frequency domain and describing heart rate (HR) complexity were calculated, along with PPG morphology features. These features were compared between the different days. Results: Maternal HR was significantly higher and HRV features linked to parasympathetic activity were significantly lower 24 h after betamethasone administration. Features linked to sympathetic activity remained stable. Furthermore, based on the PPG morphology features, betamethasone appears to have a vasoconstrictive effect. Conclusions: Our results suggest that administering betamethasone affects maternal autonomic regulation and cardiovasculature. Researchers assessing maternal HRV in complicated pregnancies should schedule measurements before or sufficiently after corticosteroid administration.

The World Health Organization Antenatal CorTicosteroids for Improving Outcomes in preterm Newborns (ACTION-III) Trial: study protocol for a multi-country, multi-centre, double-blind, three-arm, placebo-controlled, individually randomized trial of antenatal corticosteroids for women at high probability of late preterm birth in hospitals in low- resource countries

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth complications are the leading cause of newborn and under-5 mortality. Over 85% of all preterm births occur in the late preterm period, i.e. between 34 and < 37 weeks of gestation. Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) prevent mortality and respiratory morbidity when administered to women at high risk of an early preterm birth, i.e. < 34 weeks' gestation. However, the benefits and risks of ACS in the late preterm period are less clear; both guidelines and practices vary between settings. Emerging evidence suggests that the benefits of ACS may be achievable at lower doses than presently used. This trial aims to determine the efficacy and safety of two ACS regimens compared to placebo, when given to women with a high probability of late preterm birth, in hospitals in low-resource countries.

METHODS

WHO ACTION III trial is a parallel-group, three-arm, individually randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of two ACS regimens: dexamethasone phosphate 4 × 6 mg q12h or betamethasone phosphate 4 × 2 mg q 12 h. The trial is being conducted across seven sites in five countries-Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Eligible women are those with a gestational age between 34 weeks 0 days and 36 weeks 5 days, who have a high probability of preterm birth between 12 h and 7 days (up to 36 weeks 6 days gestation). The primary outcome is a composite of stillbirth or neonatal death within 72 h of birth or use of newborn respiratory support within 72 h of birth or prior to discharge from hospital, whichever is earlier. Secondary outcomes include safety and health utilization measures for both women and newborns. The sample size is 13,500 women.

DISCUSSION

This trial will evaluate the benefits and possible harms of ACS when used in women likely to have a late preterm birth. It will also evaluate a lower-dose ACS regimen based on literature from pharmacokinetic studies. The results of this trial will provide robust critical evidence on the safe and appropriate use of ACS in the late preterm period internationally.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN11434567 . Registered on 7 June 2021.

Determining the Associations Between Glucocorticoid Use During Hematologic Chemotherapy Treatment and New-onset Diabetes and Hyperglycemia and Mortality: A Population-based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the associations between glucocorticoid administration during chemotherapy for hematologic malignancy and hyperglycemia, new-onset diabetes, and mortality in Ontario, Canada. Hospitalization and emergency room utilization during the chemotherapy treatment period were also described.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using health administrative data from ICES, Ontario, to assess risk of new-onset diabetes, new-onset hyperglycemia, and hyperglycemia for individuals with leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) receiving glucocorticoids during chemotherapy between 2006 and 2016. Using multivariable regression models, we determined the associations between glucocorticoid exposure and our outcomes of interest, controlling for age, sex, marginalization, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

Our cohort included 19,530 individuals; 71.1% (n=13,893) received a glucocorticoid. The highest proportion of hyperglycemia occurred with leukemia (25.4%, n=1,301). Of the 15,580 individuals with no history of diabetes, those with leukemia had the highest rate of new-onset diabetes (7.1%, n=279) and new-onset hyperglycemia (18.1%, n=641), and glucocorticoid exposure increased the risk of new-onset diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 1.64, p=0.04) and new-onset hyperglycemia (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.5, p=0.003). Hyperglycemia during chemotherapy increased the risk of all-cause mortality for the combined (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.27, p<0.0001) and NHL (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.28, p=0.007) cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperglycemia is common during hematologic chemotherapy treatment and is associated with a modest increased risk of all-cause mortality. Routine screening, monitoring, and management of hyperglycemia should be an integral part of treatment plans for leukemia, NHL, or HL, with or without glucocorticoid administration.

Antenatal corticosteroids: an updated assessment of anticipated benefits and potential risks

Antenatal steroid therapy is increasingly central to the obstetrical management of women at imminent risk of preterm birth. For women likely to deliver between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation, antenatal steroid therapy is the standard of care, conferring sizable benefits and few risks in high-resource environments when appropriately targeted. Recent studies have focused on antenatal steroid use in periviable and late preterm populations, and in term cesarean deliveries. As a result, antenatal steroid therapy has now been applied from 22 to 39+6 weeks of estimated gestational age. There is also an increased appreciation that the vast majority of randomized control data informing the use of antenatal steroids are derived from predominantly high-resource, White populations. Accordingly, a sizable amount of work has recently been undertaken to test how to safely use antenatal steroids in low- and middle-resource environments, wherein the often high rates of preterm birth make these low-cost, easily administered interventions an attractive proposition. It is likely underappreciated by the obstetrical and neonatal communities that the overall efficacy of antenatal steroid therapy is highly variable (including when preterm risk is accurately assessed), the treatment regimens used are largely arbitrary, dosing is suprapharmacologic for effect, and the benefit-risk balance is significantly and differentially modified by gestation. It is also very likely that the patients consenting to receive these treatments are similarly unaware of the complex balance of potential benefits and harms. Although a small number of follow-up studies present a generally benign picture of long-term antenatal steroid risk, several large, population-based retrospective studies have identified associations between antenatal steroid use, childhood mental disease, and newborn infections that warrant urgent attention. Of particular contemporary importance are emergent efforts to optimize antenatal steroid regimens on the basis of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the agents themselves, the need for better targeting of these potent drugs, and clear articulation of the potential benefits and harms of antenatal steroid use at differing stages of pregnancy and in different delivery contexts.

A comparison of 2 doses of antenatal dexamethasone for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome: an open-label, noninferiority, pragmatic randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Antenatal corticosteroids have been used for the prevention of respiratory complications, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and other adverse neonatal outcomes for over 50 years, with limited evidence about their optimal doses. Higher steroid doses or frequencies of antenatal corticosteroids in preterm newborns pose adverse effects such as prolonged adrenal suppression, negative effects on fetal programming and metabolism, and increased risks of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychological impairments. Conversely, lower doses of antenatal corticosteroids may be an effective alternative to induce fetal lung maturation with less risk to the fetus. Late preterm births represent the largest population of all preterm neonates, with a respiratory distress syndrome risk of 8.83%. Therefore, determining the optimal antenatal corticosteroid dosage is of particular importance for this population.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of 5-mg and 6-mg dexamethasone in preventing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in women with preterm births at 320 to 366 weeks of gestation.

STUDY DESIGN

This was an open-label, randomized, controlled, noninferiority trial. Singleton pregnant women (n=370) at 320 to 366 weeks of gestation with spontaneous preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes were enrolled. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to a 5-mg or 6-mg dexamethasone group. Dexamethasone was administered intramuscularly every 12 hours for 4 doses or until delivery. The primary outcome was the reduction in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome cases, whereas the secondary outcomes were any adverse maternal or neonatal events.

RESULTS

Between December 2020 and April 2022, 370 eligible women, anticipating deliveries within the gestational range of 32 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks, willingly participated in the study. They were evenly split, with 185 women assigned to the 5-mg group and 185 to the 6-mg group. The study revealed that the demographic profiles of the participants in the 2 groups were remarkably similar, with no statistically significant disparities (P>.05). It is noteworthy that most of these women gave birth after 34 weeks of gestation. Despite a substantial proportion not completing the full course of steroid treatment, the 5-mg dose exhibited noninferiority compared with the 6-mg dose of dexamethasone, as indicated by a modest proportional difference of 0.5% (95% confidence interval, -2.8 to 43.9). Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome occurred in a relatively low percentage of newborns in both groups, affecting 2.2% in the 5-mg group and 1.6% in the 6-mg group. Notably, the risk difference of 0.6% fell comfortably within the predefined noninferiority threshold of 10%.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that a 5-mg dexamethasone dose is noninferior to a standard 6-mg dose in preventing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in preterm births.

Factors associated with maternal hyperglycaemia and neonatal hypoglycaemia after antenatal betamethasone administration in women with diabetes in pregnancy

AIMS

Bespoke glycaemic control strategies following antenatal corticosteroids for women with diabetes in pregnancy (DIP) may mitigate hyperglycaemia. This study aims to identify predictive factors for the glycaemic response to betamethasone in a large cohort of women with DIP.

METHODS

Evaluation of a prospective cohort study of 347 consecutive DIP pregnancies receiving two doses of 11.4 mg betamethasone 24 h apart between 2017 and 2021 and treated with the Pregnancy-IVI intravenous insulin protocol. Regression modelling identified factors associated with maternal glycaemic time-in-range (TIR) and maternal insulin requirements following betamethasone. Factors associated with neonatal hypoglycaemia (glucose <2.6 mmol/L) in infants born within 48 h of betamethasone administration (n = 144) were investigated.

RESULTS

The mean maternal age was 31.9 ± 5.8 years, with gestational age at betamethasone of 33.5 ± 3.4 weeks. Gestational diabetes was present in 81% (12% type 1; 7% type 2). Pre-admission subcutaneous insulin was prescribed for 63%. On-infusion maternal glucose TIR (4.0-7.8 mmol/L) was 83% [IQR 77%-90%] and mean on-IVI glucose was 6.6 ± 0.5 mmol/L. Maternal hypoglycaemia (<3.8 mmol/L) was uncommon (0.47 h/100 on-IVI woman hours). Maternal glucose TIR was negatively associated with indicators of insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome), late-pregnancy complications (pre-eclampsia, chorioamnionitis) and the 1-h OGTT result. Intravenous insulin requirements were associated with type of diabetes, pre-eclampsia and intrauterine infection, the 1-h OGTT result and the timing of betamethasone administration. Neonatal hypoglycaemia was associated with pre-existing diabetes but not with measures of glycaemic control.

CONCLUSION

An intravenous infusion protocol effectively controls maternal glucose after betamethasone. A risk-factor-based approach may allow individualisation of therapy.

Pharmacodynamic Age Structured Population Model For Cell Trafficking

OBJECTIVES

Cell trafficking encompasses movement of the immune system cells (e.g., granulocytes, lymphocytes) between the blood and the extravascular tissues (e.g., lymph nodes). Corticosteroids are known to suppress cell trafficking. The age-structured cell population models introduce the transit time as a structure that allows one to quantify the distribution of times the immune cells spend in the blood and the extravascular tissues. The objective of this work is to develop an age-structured cell population model describing drug effects on cell trafficking and to implement the model in pharmacometric software to enable parameter estimation and simulations.

METHODS

We adopted the well-known McKendrick age-structured population model to describe the age distributions in two cell populations: blood cells and cells in the extravascular space. The hazard of cell recirculation from the extravascular tissues was age dependent and described by the Weibull function with the shape ν and scale β parameters. The drug effect on cell trafficking was modeled as the product of the Emax function of the drug plasma concentration and the Weibull hazard. The model was implemented in NONMEM 7.5.1. The model was applied to the basophil data in 34 healthy subjects who received a single intramuscular or oral dose of 6 mg dexamethasone (DEX). A recently published pharmacokinetic model was applied to describe DEX plasma concentration. Typical values of parameter estimates were further used to simulate the DEX effect of the basophil mean transit time in the extravascular tissues.

RESULTS

Simulations of basophil time courses for varying ν demonstrated that the rebound in the blood count data following drug administration is only possible for ν >1. The estimates of model parameters were ν = 3.02, β = 0.00863 1/h, and IC50 = 7.47 ng/mL. The calculated baseline mean transit times of basophils in the blood 7.2 h and extravascular tissues 104.9 h agree with the values reported in the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

We introduced an age-structured population model to describe cell trafficking between the blood and extravascular tissues. The model was adopted to account for the inhibitory drug effect on the cell recirculation. We showed that the age structure is essential to explain the rebound observed in the blood count response to a single dose drug administration. The model was validated using the basophil responses to DEX treatment in healthy subjects.

A narrative review of the effects of dexamethasone on traumatic brain injury in clinical and animal studies: focusing on inflammation

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of brain injury resulting from a sudden physical force to the head. TBI can range from mild, such as a concussion, to severe, which might result in long-term complications or even death. The initial impact or primary injury to the brain is followed by neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, and oxidative stress, which are the hallmarks of the secondary injury phase, that can further damage the brain tissue. Dexamethasone (DXM) has neuroprotective effects. It reduces neuroinflammation, a critical factor in secondary injury-associated neuronal damage. DXM can also suppress the microglia activation and infiltrated macrophages, which are responsible for producing pro-inflammatory cytokines that contribute to neuroinflammation. Considering the outcomes of this research, some of the effects of DXM on TBI include: (1) DXM-loaded hydrogels reduce apoptosis, neuroinflammation, and lesion volume and improves neuronal cell survival and motor performance, (2) DXM treatment elevates the levels of Ndufs2, Gria3, MAOB, and Ndufv2 in the hippocampus following TBI, (3) DXM decreases the quantity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells, (4) DXM reduces the expression of IL1, (5) DXM suppresses the infiltration of RhoA + cells into primary lesions of TBI and (6) DXM treatment led to an increase in fractional anisotropy values and a decrease in apparent diffusion coefficient values, indicating improved white matter integrity. According to the study, the findings show that DXM treatment has neuroprotective effects in TBI. This indicates that DXM is a promising therapeutic approach to treating TBI.

Population pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone in critically ill COVID-19 patients: Does inflammation play a role?

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to design a population pharmacokinetic study to gain a deeper understanding of the pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone in critically ill COVID-19 patients in order to identify relevant covariates that can be used to personalize dosing regimens.

METHODS

Blood samples from critically ill patients receiving fixed-dose intravenous dexamethasone (6 mg/day) for the treatment of COVID-19 were sampled in a retrospective pilot study. The data were analyzed using Nonlinear Mixed Effects Modeling (NONMEM) software for population pharmacokinetic analysis and clinically relevant covariates were selected and evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 51 dexamethasone samples from 18 patients were analyzed and a two-compartment model fit the data best. The mean population estimates were 2.85 L/h (inter-individual-variability 62.9%) for clearance, 15.4 L for the central volume of distribution, 12.3 L for the peripheral volume of distribution and 2.1 L/h for the inter-compartmental distribution clearance. The covariate analysis showed a significant negative correlation between dexamethasone clearance and CRP.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexamethasone PK parameters in ICU COVID patients were substantially different from those from non-ICU non-COVID patients, and inflammation may play an important role in dexamethasone exposure. This finding suggests that fixed-dose dexamethasone over several days may not be appropriate for ICU COVID patients.

Minimal physiologically-based hybrid model of pharmacokinetics in pregnant women: Application to antenatal corticosteroids

Minimal physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (mPBPK) models are an alternative to full physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models as they offer reduced complexity while maintaining the physiological interpretation of key model components. Full PBPK models have been developed for pregnancy, but a mPBPK model eases the ability to perform a "top-down" meta-analysis melding all available pharmacokinetic (PK) data in the mother and fetus. Our hybrid mPBPK model consists of mPBPK models for the mother and fetus with connection by the placenta. This model was applied to describe the rich PK data of antenatal corticosteroid betamethasone (BET) jointly with the limited data for dexamethasone (DEX) in the mother and fetus. Physiologic model parameters were obtained from the literature while drug-dependent parameters were estimated by the simultaneous fitting of all available data for DEX and BET. Maternal clearances of DEX and BET confirmed the literature values, and the expected fetal-to-maternal plasma ratios ranged from 0.3 to 0.4 for both drugs. Simulations of maternal plasma concentrations for the dosing regimens of BET and DEX recommended by the World Health Organization based on our findings revealed up to 60% lower exposures than found in nonpregnant women and offers a means of devising alternative dosing regimens. Our hybrid mPBPK model and meta-analysis approach could facilitate assessment of other classes of drugs indicated for the treatment of pregnant women.

Changes in Maternal Heart Rate and Autonomic Regulation following the Antenatal Administration of Corticosteroids: A Secondary Analysis

While the effect of antenatally administered corticosteroids on fetal heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) is well established, little information is available on how these drugs affect maternal physiology. In this secondary analysis of a prospective, observational cohort study, we quantify how corticosteroids affect maternal HR and HRV, which serve as a proxy measure for autonomic regulation. Abdominal ECG measurements were recorded before and in the five days following the administration of betamethasone—a corticosteroid commonly used for fetal maturation—in 46 women with singleton pregnancies. Maternal HR and HRV were determined from these recordings and compared between these days. HRV was assessed with time- and frequency-domain features, as well as non-linear and complexity features. In the 24 h after betamethasone administration, maternal HR was significantly increased (p < 0.01) by approximately 10 beats per minute, while HRV features linked to parasympathetic activity and HR complexity were significantly decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Within four days after the initial administration of betamethasone, HR decreases and HRV features increase again, indicating a diminishing effect of betamethasone a few days after administration. We conclude that betamethasone administration results in changes in maternal HR and HRV, despite the heterogeneity of the studied population. Therefore, its recent administration should be considered when evaluating these cardiovascular metrics.

Low-dose antenatal betamethasone treatment achieves preterm lung maturation equivalent to that of the World Health Organization dexamethasone regimen but with reduced endocrine disruption in a sheep model of pregnancy

BACKGROUND

The intramuscular administration of antenatal steroids to women at risk of preterm delivery achieves high maternal and fetal plasma steroid concentrations, which are associated with adverse effects and may reduce treatment efficacy. We have demonstrated that antenatal steroid efficacy is independent of peak maternofetal steroid levels once exposure is maintained above a low threshold.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to test, using a sheep model of pregnancy, whether the low-dose antenatal steroid regimen proposed as part of the Antenatal Corticosteroids for Improving Outcomes in Preterm Newborns trial would achieve preterm lung maturation equivalent to that of the existing World Health Organization dexamethasone treatment regimen, but with reduced risk of adverse outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

Following ethical review and approval, date-mated ewes with single fetuses received intramuscular injections of either (1) four 6-mg maternal intramuscular injections of dexamethasone phosphate every 12 hours (n=22), (2) 4 2-mg maternal intramuscular injections of betamethasone phosphate every 12 hours (n=21), or (3) 4 2-mL maternal intramuscular injections of saline every 12 hours (n=16). Of note, 48 hours after first injection, (124±1 day), lambs were delivered, ventilated for 30 minutes, and euthanized for sampling. Arterial blood gas, respiratory, hematological, and biochemical data were analyzed for between-group differences with analysis of variance according to distribution and variance, with P<.05 taken as significant.

RESULTS

After 30 minutes of ventilation, lambs from both steroid-treated groups had significant and equivalent improvements in lung function relative to saline control (P<.05). There was no significant difference in arterial blood pH, pO₂, pCO₂, lung compliance, ventilator efficiency index, or lung volume at necropsy with a static pressure of 40 cmH₂O. The messenger RNA expression of surfactant protein (Sp)a, Spb, Spc, Spd, aquaporin (Aqp)1, Aqp5, and sodium channel epithelial 1 subunit beta (Scnn1b) was equivalent between both steroid groups. Maternal and fetal plasma neutrophil, glucose, and fetal plasma C-peptide levels were significantly elevated in the dexamethasone group, relative to the betamethasone group. Fetal plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 was significantly reduced in the dexamethasone group compared with the betamethasone group (P<0.05). Fetal adrenocorticotropic hormone (r=0.53), maternal glucose value (r=-0.52), and fetal glucose values (r=-0.42) were correlated with maternal weight in the betamethasone group (P<.05), whereas fetal pCO₂ and pO₂ were not correlated. There was no significant difference between male and female lamb outcomes in any groups for any of the items evaluated.

CONCLUSION

This study reported that in preterm lambs, a low-dose treatment regimen of 8 mg betamethasone achieves lung maturation equivalent to that of a 24-mg dexamethasone-based regimen, but with smaller perturbations to the maternofetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. These data suggested that given steroid pharmacokinetic differences between sheep and humans, a betamethasone dose of 2 mg may remain above the minimum dose necessary for robust maturation of the preterm lung. Maternal weight-adjusted betamethasone doses might also be a key to reducing perturbations to the maternofetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

The complex challenge of antenatal steroid therapy nonresponsiveness

Antenatal steroid therapy is standard care for women at imminent risk of preterm delivery. When deliveries occur within 7 days of treatment, antenatal steroid therapy reduces the risk of neonatal death and improves preterm outcomes by exerting diverse developmental effects on the fetal organs, in particular the preterm lung and cardiovascular system. There is, however, sizable variability in antenatal steroid treatment efficacy, and an important percentage of fetuses exposed to antenatal steroid therapy do not respond sufficiently to derive benefit. Respiratory distress syndrome, for example, is a central metric of clinical trials to assess antenatal steroid outcomes. In the present analysis, we addressed the concept of antenatal steroid nonresponsiveness, and defined a failed or suboptimal response to antenatal steroids as death or a diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome following treatment. For deliveries at 24 to 35 weeks' gestation, the number needed to treat to prevent 1 case of respiratory distress syndrome was 19 (95% confidence interval, 14-28). Reflecting gestation-dependent risk, for deliveries at >34 weeks' gestation the number needed to treat was 55 (95% confidence interval, 30-304), whereas for elective surgical deliveries at term this number was 106 (95% confidence interval, 61-421). We reviewed data from clinical and animal studies investigating antenatal steroid therapy to highlight the significant incidence of antenatal steroid therapy nonresponsiveness (ie, residual mortality or respiratory distress syndrome after treatment), and the potential mechanisms underpinning this outcome variability. The origins of this variability may be related to both the manner in which the therapy is applied (ie, the treatment regimen itself) and factors specific to the individual (ie, genetic variation, stress, infection). The primary aims of this review were: (1) to emphasize to the obstetrical and neonatal communities the extent of antenatal steroid response variability and its potential impact; (2) to propose approaches by which antenatal steroid therapy may be better applied to improve overall benefit; and (3) to stimulate further research toward the empirical optimization of this important antenatal therapy.

Differences in thyroid function tests after administration of a single supraphysiological dose of ACTH or a high dose of a synthetic steroid

OBJECTIVE

Although the suppressive action of synthetic steroids on the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis is established, little is known regarding the effect of the administration of synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

DESIGN

In the context of a randomized, open label, comparative study assessing the efficacy and safety of ACTH and betamethasone in the treatment of hospitalized patients with acute gout, we compared the effects of these agents on thyroid function tests.

METHODS

Serum TSH, total T4 and T3 and cortisol were measured before and at 24 and 48 h after a single intramuscular dose of synthetic ACTH (1 mg) or betamethasone (6 mg), in 38 hospitalized patients with acute gout and normal thyroid function.

RESULTS

The final analysis included 32 patients, due to missing data. The ACTH and betamethasone groups did not differ regarding the mean age, gender, severity of gout attack, and baseline thyroid parameters. In the ACTH group TSH and T4 were significantly decreased at 24 and at 48 h compared to baseline, while T3 was decreased at 24 but not at 48 h. In the betamethasone group T3 remained stable; TSH and T4 decreased significantly from baseline levels at 24 h; at 48 h, TSH had returned to and T4 showed a partial rebound towards pre-treatment values.

CONCLUSIONS

A single IM administration of 1 mg of synthetic ACTH has more profound and prolonged effects on the HPT axis, lasting for at least 48 h, compared to a single IM dose of 6 mg betamethasone.

1% of the clinical dose used for antenatal steroid therapy is sufficient to induce lung maturation when administered directly to the preterm ovine fetus

INTRODUCTION

Antenatal steroids (ANS) are standard of care for women at imminent risk of preterm delivery. ANS accelerate functional maturation of the preterm fetal lung. Current dosing regimens expose the mother and fetus to high steroid levels with increased risk of adverse outcomes. Using a sheep model of pregnancy, we aimed to demonstrate that direct fetal administration would be sufficient to elicit functional maturation of the fetal lung.

STUDY DESIGN

Ewes and fetuses at 122d gestation underwent recovery surgery to install a fetal jugular catheter. Animals were then immediately randomised to either: i) fetal intravenous betamethasone phosphate infusion of 2ng/ml for 26 hours (fetal low-dose group; n=16); ii) fetal intravenous saline infusion for 26 hours and two maternal intramuscular injections of 0.25mg/kg betamethasone-phosphate + betamethasone-acetate (maternal clinical treatment group; n=12); or iii) fetal intravenous saline infusion for 26 hours (negative control group; n=10). Fetuses were delivered 48 hours after surgery, ventilated for 30 min to allow collection of physiological data, and euthanised.

RESULTS

The average betamethasone dose for the fetal low-dose group was 1% (0.3mg) of that used in the maternal clinical treatment group (30mg). At 30 minutes of ventilation, arterial paCO2, pH, heart rate and VEI were significantly (p<0.05) and equivalently improved in both the fetal low-dose and maternal clinical treatment group relative to negative control.

CONCLUSION

Maternal steroid administration was not required to elicit fetal lung maturation. Targeted fetal ANS treatments may allow the use of materially reduced antenatal steroid exposures, significantly reducing the risk of adverse outcomes.

Continuous but not pulsed low-dose fetal betamethasone exposures extend the durability of antenatal steroid therapy

Antenatal steroid (ANS) therapy is standard care for women at imminent risk of preterm labor. Despite extensive and long-standing use, 40-50% of babies exposed antenatally to steroids do not derive benefit; remaining undelivered 7d or more after ANS treatment is associated with a lack of treatment benefit, and increased risk of harms. We used a pregnant sheep model to evaluate the impact of continuous vs. pulsed ANS treatments on fetal lung maturation at an extended, eight-day treatment to delivery interval. Continuous low-dose ANS treatments for more than 72 hours in duration improved fetal lung maturation at eight days after treatment initiation. If fetal ANS exposure was interrupted, the beneficial ANS effect was lost. Truncated treatments, including that simulating the current clinical treatment regimen, did not improve lung function. Variable fetal lung maturation was correlated to the amount of saturated phosphatidylcholine present in the lung fluid. These data demonstrate that: i) the durability of ANS therapy may be enhanced by employing an extended, low-dose treatment regimen with reducing total dose; and ii) interrupting the continuity of fetal exposure by allowing it to fall below a minimal threshold was associated with comparably poor functional maturation of the preterm ovine lung.

Betamethasone phosphate reduces the efficacy of antenatal steroid therapy and is associated with lower birthweights when administered to pregnant sheep in combination with betamethasone acetate

BACKGROUND

Antenatal corticosteroid therapy is a standard of care for women at imminent risk of preterm labor. However, the optimal (maximum benefit and minimal risk of side effects) antenatal corticosteroid dosing strategy remains unclear. Although conveying overall benefit when given to the right patient at the right time, antenatal corticosteroid treatment efficacy is highly variable and is not risk-free. Building on earlier findings, we hypothesized that when administered in combination with slow-release betamethasone acetate, betamethasone phosphate and the high maternal-fetal betamethasone concentrations it generates are redundant for fetal lung maturation.

OBJECTIVE

Using an established sheep model of prematurity and postnatal ventilation of the preterm lamb, we aimed to compare the pharmacodynamic effects of low-dosage treatment with betamethasone acetate only against a standard dosage of betamethasone phosphate and betamethasone acetate as recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for women at risk of imminent preterm delivery between 24 0/7 and 35 6/7 weeks' gestation.

STUDY DESIGN

Ewes carrying a single fetus at 122±1 days' gestation (term=150 days) were randomized to receive either (1) maternal intramuscular injections of sterile saline (the saline negative control group, n=12), (2) 2 maternal intramuscular injections of 0.25 mg/kg betamethasone phosphate+betamethasone acetate administered at 24-hour dosing intervals (the betamethasone phosphate+betamethasone acetate group, n=12); or (3) 2 maternal intramuscular injections of 0.125 mg/kg betamethasone acetate administered at 24-hour dosing intervals (the betamethasone acetate group, n=11). The fetuses were surgically delivered 48 hours after treatment initiation and ventilated for 30 minutes to determine functional lung maturation. The fetuses were euthanized after ventilation, and the lungs were collected for analysis using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays. Fetal plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were measured in the cord blood samples taken at delivery.

RESULTS

Preterm lambs were defined as either antenatal corticosteroid treatment responders or nonresponders using an arbitrary cutoff, being a PaCO₂ level at 30 minutes of ventilation being more extreme than 2 standard deviations from the mean value of the normally distributed saline control group values. Compared with the animals in the saline control group, the animals in the antenatal corticosteroid treatment groups showed significantly improved lung physiological responses (blood gas and ventilation data) and had a biochemical signature (messenger RNA and surfactant protein assays) consistent with functional maturation. However, the betamethasone acetate group had a significantly higher treatment response rate than the betamethasone phosphate+betamethasone acetate group. These physiological results were strongly correlated to the amount of surfactant protein A. Birthweight was lower in the betamethasone phosphate+betamethasone acetate group and the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was suppressed to a greater extent in the betamethasone phosphate+betamethasone acetate group.

CONCLUSION

Low-dosage antenatal corticosteroid therapy solely employing betamethasone acetate was sufficient for fetal lung maturation. The elevated maternal-fetal betamethasone concentrations associated with the coadministration of betamethasone phosphate did not in addition improve lung maturation but were associated with greater fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression, a lower antenatal corticosteroid treatment response rate, and lower birthweight-outcomes not desirable in a clinical setting. These data warranted a clinical investigation of sustained low-dosage antenatal corticosteroid treatments that avoid high maternal-fetal betamethasone exposures.

Role of Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone Corticosteroids in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Hospitalized Patients: A Review

The WHO announced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic disease globally on March 11, 2020, after it emerged in China. The emergence of COVID-19 has lasted over a year, and despite promising vaccine reports that have been produced, we still have a long way to go until such remedies are accessible to everyone. The immunomodulatory strategy has been kept at the top priority for the research agenda for COVID-19. Corticosteroids have been used to modulate the immune response in a wide range of diseases for the last 70 years. These drugs have been shown to avoid and reduce inflammation in tissues and the bloodstream through non-genomic and genomic effects. Now, the use of corticosteroids increased the chance of survival and relief by combating the viral strong inflammatory impacts and has moved to the forefront in the management of patients seeking supplemental oxygen. The goal of this review is to illuminate dexamethasone and methylprednisolone, i.e., in terms of their chemical and physical properties, role in COVID-19 patients suffering from pneumonia, the proposed mode of action in COVID-19, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical outcomes in immunocompromised populations with COVID-19, interaction with other drugs, and contradiction to explore the trends and perspectives for future research. Literature was searched from scientific databases such as Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, PubMed, and books for the preparation of this review. The RECOVERY trial, a massive, multidisciplinary, randomized, and open-label trial, is mainly accountable for recommendations over the usage of corticosteroids in COVID-19 patients. The corticosteroids such as dexamethasone and methylprednisolone in the form of medication have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-allergic characteristics, including the ability to inhibit the immune system. These drugs are also recommended for treating symptoms of multiple ailments such as rheumatic and autoimmune diseases, leukemia, multiple myeloma, and Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma along with other drugs. Toxicology studies proved them safe usually at low dosage via oral or other routes.

Effect of Antenatal Dexamethasone in Late Preterm Period on Neonatal Hypoglycemia: A Prospective Cohort Study from a Developing Country

OBJECTIVES

This study compared the risk of hypoglycemia within 72 h of life in infants with and without exposure to antenatal dexamethasone in the late preterm period (34-366/7 week's gestational age).

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary care neonatal unit of Eastern India from May 2021 to November 2021. Babies in the exposed group received at least one dose of antenatal dexamethasone in the late preterm period between 7 days before delivery and birth. 'Complete course' of antenatal steroid was defined as four doses of injection dexamethasone at 12 h intervals and <4 doses were considered as 'Partial course'. Primary outcome was incidence of hypoglycemia within 72 h of life, defined as whole blood glucose <45 mg/dl.

RESULTS

Total 298 infants (98 in control, 134 in partial and 66 in complete group) were assessed for final outcome. No significant difference in outcomes were seen in the exposed group compared to unexposed group. However, incidence of hypoglycemia within 72 h (complete vs. partial p= 0.008, complete vs. control p=0.005) and 12 h of life (complete vs. partial p=0.013, complete vs. control p=0.013) was significantly less in complete steroid group. Logistic regression analysis revealed complete course of antenatal corticosteroid significantly decreased the risk of hypoglycemia [adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15 (0.03-0.69), p=0.015]. Number needed to be exposed for one additional benefit was 7 (95% CI, 6.35-22.14).

CONCLUSION

Complete course of dexamethasone administered to mothers at risk of late preterm delivery reduces risk of neonatal hypoglycemia within 72 h of life.

Antenatal dexamethasone for late preterm birth: A multi-centre, two-arm, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial

BACKGROUND

There is currently insufficient evidence on the safety and efficacy of antenatal corticosteroids in preventing mortality and severe morbidity amongst late preterm newborns in low-resource countries.

METHODS

We conducted a double-blind, randomized trial in four hospitals in India between 26 December 2017 to 21 May 2020. Pregnant women at risk of imminent preterm birth between 34 weeks 0 days and 36 weeks 0 days of gestation were recruited. Women were randomly assigned (1:1) to a course of 6 mg intramuscular dexamethasone or an identical placebo. All trial participants, research staff and outcome assessors were masked to allocation. Primary outcomes were neonatal death, any baby death (stillbirth or neonatal death), severe neonatal respiratory distress and possible maternal bacterial infection. The study was registered with ANZCTR (ACTRN12617001494325) and CTRI (CTRI/2017/05/008721).

FINDINGS

We randomized 782 women, 391 to each arm. Neonatal death occurred in 11 of 412 liveborn babies (2.7%) in the dexamethasone group and 12 of 425 liveborn babies (2.8%) in the placebo group (RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.42-2.12). Any baby death occurred in 16 of 417 infants (3.8%) in the dexamethasone group and 19 of 432 infants (4.4%) in the placebo group (RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.45-1.67). Severe neonatal respiratory distress was infrequent in both groups (0.8% vs 0.5%; RR 1.56; 95% CI 0.26-9.29). Possible maternal bacterial infection did not differ between groups (2.3% vs. 3.8%, RR 0.60; 95% CI 0.27-1.35). Fewer neonates in the dexamethasone group required resuscitation at birth (RR 0.38, CI 0.15-0.97). Other secondary outcomes were similar in the two arms. The trial was stopped due to lower than expected prevalence of primary outcomes and slow recruitment.

INTERPRETATION

Antenatal dexamethasone did not result in a reduction in neonatal death, stillbirth or neonatal death, or severe neonatal respiratory distress in this trial. The overall trend of effects suggests that potential benefit of dexamethasone in late preterm cannot be excluded, and further trials are required.

FUNDING

This trial was primarily funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Grant OPP1136821). Additional support was provided by UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research; and Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health, and Ageing, of the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Management Practices During Perinatal Respiratory Transition of Very Premature Infants

The present review considers some controversial management practices during extremely premature perinatal transition. We focus on perinatal prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in immature infants. New concerns regarding antenatal corticosteroid management have been raised. Many fetuses are only exposed to potential adverse effects of the drug. Hence, the formulation and the dosage may need to be modified. Another challenge is to increase the fraction of the high-risk fetuses that benefit from the drug and to minimize the harmful effects of the drug. On the other hand, boosting anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties of surfactant requires further attention. Techniques of prophylactic surfactant administration to extremely immature infants at birth may be further refined. Also, new findings suggest that prophylactic treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) of a high-risk population rather than later selective closure of PDA may be preferred. The TREOCAPA trial (Prophylactic treatment of the ductus arteriosus in preterm infants by acetaminophen) evaluates, whether early intravenous paracetamol decreases the serious cardiorespiratory consequences following extremely premature birth. Lastly, is inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) used in excess? According to current evidence, iNO treatment of uncomplicated RDS is not indicated. Considerably less than 10% of all very premature infants are affected by early persistence of pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). According to observational studies, effective ventilation combined with early iNO treatment are effective in management of this previously fatal disease. PPHN is associated with prolonged rupture of fetal membranes and birth asphyxia. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immunotolerance and hypoxia-reperfusion-induced oxidant stress may inactivate NO-synthetases in pulmonary arterioles and terminal airways. Prospective trials on iNO in the management of PPHN are indicated. Other pulmonary vasodilators may be considered as comparison drugs or adjunctive drugs. The multidisciplinary challenge is to understand the regulation of pregnancy duration and the factors participating the onset of extremely premature preterm deliveries and respiratory adaptation. Basic research aims to identify deficiencies in maternal and fetal tissues that predispose to very preterm births and deteriorate the respiratory adaptation of immature infants. Better understanding on causes and prevention of extremely preterm births would eventually provide effective antenatal and neonatal management practices required for the intact survival.

Prenatal Betamethasone Exposure and its Impact on Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Preliminary Study in a Spanish Cohort

BACKGROUND

Betamethasone, a glucocorticoid used to induce lung maturation when there is a risk of preterm delivery, can affect the immune system maturation and type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence in the progeny. It has been described that prenatal betamethasone protects offspring from experimental T1D development. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between betamethasone prenatal exposure and T1D in humans. Research Design and Methods. A retrospective case-control study with a total of 945 children, including 471 patients with T1D and 474 healthy siblings, was performed. Participants were volunteers from the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital and DiabetesCero Foundation. Parents of children enrolled in the study completed a questionnaire that included questions about weeks of gestation, preterm delivery risk, weight at birth, and prenatal betamethasone exposure of their children. Multiple logistic regression was used to detect the association between betamethasone exposure and T1D.

RESULTS

We compared T1D prevalence between subjects prenatally exposed or unexposed to betamethasone. The percent of children with T1D in the exposed group was 37.5% (21 of 56), and in the unexposed group was 49.52% (410 of 828) (p = 0.139). The percentage of betamethasone-treated subjects with T1D in the preterm group (18.05%, 13 of 72) was significantly higher than that found in the control group (12.5%, 9 of 72) (p = 0.003). The odds ratio for T1D associated with betamethasone in the univariate logistic regression was 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.33; 1.03 [p = 0.062]) and in the multivariate logistic regression was 0.83 (95% confidence interval, 0.45; 1.52 [p = 0.389]).

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate that the prenatal exposure to betamethasone does not increase T1D susceptibility, and may even be associated with a trend towards decreased risk of developing the disease. These preliminary findings require further prospective studies with clinical data to confirm betamethasone exposure effect on T1D risk.

Effects of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal blood glucose fluctuation in late-preterm infants

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) on blood glucose fluctuations in late-preterm neonates.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed on 236 neonates with gestational age of 34⁺⁰ to 36⁺⁶ weeks who were admitted to the neonatology department of a tertiary general hospital in China's Zhejiang Province between April 2020 and February 2022. The neonates were divided into three groups: complete course, partial course, and control. Primary outcome was the neonatal blood glucose levels within the first 48 h of life.

RESULTS

134 (56.8%) newborns were exposed to a complete course of ACS, 56 (23.7%) had a to a partial course of ACS, and 46 (19.5%) had no exposure to ACS. The patients in the complete course group had the highest proportion of neonatal hypoglycemia (16.4% vs. 3.6% and 6.5%).The patients exposed to a complete course of dexamethasone had significantly lower blood glucose levels within 12 h of birth than the control group, although no significant differences were observed after 24 h. Differences in blood glucose levels were more significant among male infants, although blood glucose curves of the male and female infants remained close to the overall trend.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood glucose levels in late-preterm neonates may decrease after ACS administration, especially after exposure to a complete course. The effects are more pronounced in the first 12 h of life, with males being more severely affected; however, the effects on blood glucose levels were not significant 24 h after birth. This can provide a reference for future clinical studies.

A Comparative Study of the Respiratory Neonatal Outcomes Utilizing Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate versus a Mixture of Betamethasone Dipropionate and Betamethasone Sodium Phosphate as an Antenatal Corticosteroid Therapy

Objective

The aim of this study is to compare the respiratory neonatal outcomes utilizing antenatal dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) versus a mixture of betamethasone dipropionate and betamethasone sodium phosphate (B-DP/SP) for preterm births.

Patients and Methods

All neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions for prematurity were retrospectively identified at our center in the period between September 2016 and September 2018. Pregnant women expected to give preterm birth and received steroid injections whether it is DSP or B-DP/SP were included in the study. Maternal and obstetrical data along with the corresponding respiratory neonatal outcomes were extracted and analyzed. The population was categorized according to the gestational age into extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks), very preterm (28 up to 32 weeks) and moderate or late preterm (32 up to 37 weeks) in which the repository outcomes were compared in each sub-group.

Results

A total of 650 premature neonates were included in the analysis. B-DP/SP illustrated a significant reduction in the occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) among moderate or late preterm neonates (P = 0.003) compared to DSP. In contrast, a non-significant difference was observed between B-DP/SP and DSP regarding apnea of prematurity and transient tachypnea of the newborn. The number of neonates developed chronic lung disease has been remarkably reduced when using DSP in extremely (P = 0.038) and very (P = 0.046) preterm neonates when compared to B-DP/SP.

Conclusion

The dual acting B-DP/SP formulation could possess a significant potential in reducing RDS in moderate or late preterm neonates, while DSP groups exhibit a favorable result in the development of chronic lung disease in extreme and very preterm cohorts. Such findings emphasize the need of further clinical trials, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and cost effectiveness studies to evaluate the durability of these findings.

Enhanced elimination of betamethasone in dichorionic twin pregnancies

AIM

No study has evaluated the betamethasone pharmacokinetics in twin pregnancies according to chorionicity. This study aimed to describe and compare the betamethasone pharmacokinetic parameters in singleton and dichorionic (DC) and monochorionic twin pregnancies in the third trimester of pregnancy.

METHODS

Twenty-six pregnant women received 2 intramuscular doses of 6 mg of betamethasone sodium phosphate plus 6 mg betamethasone acetate due to preterm labour. Serial blood samples were collected for 24 hours after the first intramuscular dose of betamethasone esters. Betamethasone plasma concentrations were quantified using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analytical method, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained employing a noncompartmental model. Preliminary data on the betamethasone placental transfer are also presented.

RESULTS

The geometric mean (95% confidence interval) of AUC^0-∞ 645.1 (504.3-825.2) vs. 409.8 (311.2-539.6) ng.h/mL and CL/F 17.70 (13.84-22.65) vs. 27.87 (21.17-36.69) were significantly different, respectively, in singleton pregnancies when compared to DC twins.

CONCLUSION

Data from this study suggest that the presence of 2 foetoplacental units may increase the betamethasone metabolism by hepatic CYP3A4 and/or placental 11β-HSD2 enzymes. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic clinical studies are needed to investigate whether these betamethasone pharmacokinetic changes have clinical repercussions for the newborns and require dose adjustment in DC twin pregnancies.

Intramuscular corticosteroid injections in seasonal allergic rhinitis: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is an exaggerated immunological reaction to allergens (pollen) in the air. In a small subgroup of patients, SAR can be difficult to control with first-line therapy. Intramuscular corticosteroid injections (IMCIs) are an additional treatment in this subgroup of SAR patients. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the efficacy and safety of IMCIs in SAR.

METHODS

Titles and abstracts were independently screened, followed by full-text screening based on predefined criteria. Included articles were critically appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool. The primary outcome is reported as the final conclusion about efficacy that was stated in the included studies. The secondary outcome is the safety of IMCIs with regard to long lasting side-effects.

RESULTS

The search yielded 2139 records, of which 10 were relevant and valid for our clinical question. Critical appraisal showed high risk of bias, which was due to unclear description of methods. Four out of four placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trials reported a significant and relevant difference in efficacy in favor of IMCIs compared with placebo. The occurrence of side-effects was not different between IMCIs and placebo or oral corticosteroids (OCs).

CONCLUSION

The outcome of this systematic review on trials concerning intramuscular steroid injections, despite being based on individual studies claiming favorable outcome with their use, is "inconclusive." This is because of the epidemiological high risk of bias in these studies that were mostly executed more than 30 years ago. The "inconclusive" rating allows for a description as an "optional therapy" for severe cases in guideline formation.

Betamethasone administration during pregnancy is associated with placental epigenetic changes with implications for inflammation

BACKGROUND

Glucocorticoids (GCs) play a pivotal role in fetal programming. Antenatal treatment with synthetic GCs (sGCs) in individuals in danger of preterm labor is common practice. Adverse short- and long-term effects of antenatal sGCs have been reported, but their effects on placental epigenetic characteristics have never been systematically studied in humans.

RESULTS

We tested the association between exposure to the sGC betamethasone (BET) and placental DNA methylation (DNAm) in 52 exposed cases and 84 gestational-age-matched controls. We fine-mapped associated loci using targeted bisulfite sequencing. The association of placental DNAm with gene expression and co-expression analysis on implicated genes was performed in an independent cohort including 494 placentas. Exposure to BET was significantly associated with lower placenta DNAm at an enhancer of FKBP5. FKBP5 (FK506-binding protein 51) is a co-chaperone that modulates glucocorticoid receptor activity. Lower DNAm at this enhancer site was associated with higher expression of FKBP5 and a co-expressed gene module. This module is enriched for genes associated with preeclampsia and involved in inflammation and immune response.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that BET exposure during pregnancy associates with few but lasting changes in placental DNAm and may promote a gene expression profile associated with placental dysfunction and increased inflammation. This may represent a pathway mediating GC-associated negative long-term consequences and health outcomes in offspring.

Acute conditions in dermatology: toxic reactions and their treatment

Acute severe conditions caused by the use of various drugs are of particular difficulty in dermatological practice. Toxicodermic reactions include DRESS syndrome, StevensJohnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis and erythroderma of various origins. These disorders are characterized not only by skin lesions, but also toxic reactions in internal organs, which if untreated properly can be life-threatening. The first choice drugs for such reactions are systemic glucocorticosteroids, in particular betamethasone derivatives. Our own experience and numerous studies confirm the effectiveness of such drugs. However, it should be remembered that uncontrolled or prolonged use of systemic glucocorticosteroids can aggravate the patient's condition and lead to unwanted adverse reactions.

Estimating fetal exposure to the P-gp substrates, corticosteroids, by PBPK modeling to inform prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

We have previously developed a maternal-fetal physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (m-f PBPK) model to dynamically predict (and verify) fetal-maternal exposure to drugs that passively diffuse across the placenta. Here, we extended the application of this model to dynamically predict fetal exposure to drugs which are effluxed by placental P-glycoprotein, namely the antenatal corticosteroids (ACS; dexamethasone [DEX], and betamethasone [BET]). To do so, we estimated both the placental P-gp mediated efflux clearance (CL) and the passive diffusion CL of the ACS. The efficacy and toxicity of the currently used maternal ACS dosing regimens to prevent neonatal respiratory distress syndrome could be improved by altering their dosing regimens. Therefore, to illustrate the utility of our m-f PBPK model, we used it to design alternative dosing regimens of DEX and BET that could potentially improve their efficacy and reduce their toxicity. The redesigned dosing regimens are convenient to administer, maintain maternal-fetal exposure (area under the concentration-time curve [AUC]) or maximum plasma concentration (C_max ) or both (DEX and BET) or minimize maternal exposure while maintaining fetal drug plasma concentrations above the minimum therapeutic threshold of 1 ng/ml for 48 h (BET only; based on efficacy data in sheep). To our knowledge, this is the first study to dynamically predict fetal plasma concentrations of placental P-gp effluxed drugs. Our approach and our m-f PBPK model could be used in the future to predict maternal-fetal exposure to any drug and to design alternative dosing regimens of the drug.

Time interval from late preterm antenatal corticosteroid administration to delivery and the impact on neonatal outcomes

BACKGROUND

Although administration of antenatal corticosteroids has been shown to decrease neonatal respiratory morbidity when given to women at risk for late preterm birth, the time interval from antenatal corticosteroid administration to delivery that is associated with the greatest neonatal benefit remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate whether the time interval from administration of late preterm antenatal corticosteroids to delivery is associated with a change in the likelihood of transient tachypnea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, and hypoglycemia.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study of all singleton neonates who were exposed to 1 or 2 doses of antenatal corticosteroids in the late preterm period (34+0 to 36+6 weeks' gestation) within a large healthcare system between November 2017 and March 2020. Neonates exposed to antenatal corticosteroids before 34 weeks' gestation and those with major fetal structural malformations and chromosomal disorders were excluded. Cases were stratified into the following groups based on the time interval from the first dose of antenatal corticosteroid administration to delivery: <2 days, 2 to 7 days, and >7 days. The primary outcome of transient tachypnea of the newborn was compared among the 3 groups. Secondary outcomes included respiratory distress syndrome and hypoglycemia. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between the time interval and neonatal outcomes while adjusting for potential confounders. For each outcome, delivery within 2 to 7 days from the first dose of betamethasone administration was defined as the reference group. Data were presented as adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and statistical significance was defined as P < .05.

RESULTS

The study cohort comprised 1248 neonates. Of those, 649 (52%) were exposed to 1 dose of antenatal corticosteroids. There were statistically significant differences in the maternal characteristics such as nulliparity, pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders and fetal growth restriction, gestational age at antenatal corticosteroid administration, gestational age at delivery, and mode of delivery among the 3 groups. There was a significantly increased risk for transient tachypnea of the newborn (adjusted odds ratio, 4.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.72-12.92) and respiratory distress syndrome (adjusted odds ratio, 9.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-84.24) associated with delivery <2 days of antenatal corticosteroid administration. The risk for hypoglycemia was highest in the delivery <2 days group (adjusted odds ratio, 3.44; 95% confidence interval, 2.10-5.63) and decreased as the time interval from antenatal corticosteroid administration to delivery increased (adjusted odds ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.51 for delivery >7 days).

CONCLUSION

Adverse neonatal outcomes such as transient tachypnea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, and hypoglycemia are more common when late preterm birth occurs <2 days after antenatal corticosteroid administration when compared with birth 2 to 7 days after administration. In addition, delivery >7 days after antenatal corticosteroid administration is associated with a decreased risk for hypoglycemia. Understanding the impact of antenatal corticosteroid timing on neonatal outcomes is essential in caring for patients at risk for late preterm birth.

Population pharmacodynamic modeling of intramuscular and oral dexamethasone and betamethasone effects on six biomarkers with circadian complexities in Indian women

Population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analysis was performed for extensive data for differing dosage forms and routes for dexamethasone (DEX) and betamethasone (BET) in 48 healthy nonpregnant Indian women in a partial and complex cross-over design. Single doses of 6 mg dexamethasone phosphate (DEX-P), betamethasone phosphate (BET-P), or 1:1 mixture of betamethasone phosphate and acetate (BET-PA) were administered orally (PO) or intramuscularly (IM) where each woman enrolled in a two-period cross-over study. Plasma concentrations collected over 96 h were described with a two-compartment model with differing PO and IM first-order absorption inputs. Overall, BET exhibited slower clearance, similar volume of distribution, faster absorption, and longer persistence than DEX with BET acetate producing extremely slow absorption but full bioavailability of BET. Six biomarkers were assessed over a 24-h baseline period with four showing circadian rhythms with complex baselines. These baselines and the strong responses seen after drug dosing were fitted with various indirect response models using the Laplace estimation methods in NONMEM 7.4. Both the PK and six biomarker responses were well-described with modest variability likely due to the homogeneous ages, weights, and ethnicities of the women. The drugs either inhibited or stimulated the influx processes with some models requiring joint inclusion of drug effects on circadian cortisol suppression. The biomarkers and order of sensitivity (lowest IC₅₀/SC₅₀ to highest) were: cortisol, T-helper cells, basophils, glucose, neutrophils, and T-cytotoxic cells. DEX sensitivities were generally greater than BET with corresponding mean ratios for these biomarkers of 2.86, 1.27, 1.72, 1.27, 2.69, and 1.06. Overall, the longer PK (e.g. half-life) of BET, but lesser PD activity (e.g. higher IC₅₀), produces single-dose response profiles that appear quite similar, except for the extended effects from BET-PA. This comprehensive population modeling effort provides the first detailed comparison of the PK profiles and six biomarker responses of five commonly used dosage forms of DEX and BET in healthy women.

Chapter for antenatal steroids - Treatment drift for a potent therapy with unknown long-term safety seminars in fetal and neonatal medicine

This chapter on therapeutic drift with antenatal steroids will make the case that this pilar of treatment to improve the outcomes of preterm infants, despite multiple Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) and meta-analysis, has multiple gaps in solid clinical data to support any expanded use of Antenatal Corticosteroids (ACS). A basic problem is that agents used for ACS have never been evaluated to minimize fetal exposures. Based on the premise that all drug exposure to the fetus should be minimized and only used when necessary, ACS is a potent developmental modulator that has never been evaluated to minimize the dose and duration of fetal exposure. The use of ACS is expanding to late preterm infants where the benefit is modest, to elective C-sections, and periviable fetuses, with minimal RCT data of long-term benefit. Relevant animal experiments demonstrate that much lower doses will induce lung maturation in sheep and primates. Another area of drift in the use of ACS is based on the assumption that the old RCT data accurately predict the magnitude of benefit when ACS is used today with entirely different OB and neonatal care strategies to improve outcomes. We do not have data that demonstrate the effectiveness of ACS in very low resource environments, where most of the preterm mortality occurs. The final concern is the risk of ACS to the infant and child. Short-term risks are minimal but dysmaturation effects of ACS on multiple organ systems (lung, heart, brain, and kidney) may result in disease presentation in later life.

Population pharmacokinetic modeling of intramuscular and oral dexamethasone and betamethasone in Indian women

Population analysis of pharmacokinetic data for five differing dosage forms and routes for dexamethasone and betamethasone in 48 healthy nonpregnant Indian women was performed that accounted for a partial and complex cross-over design. Single doses of 6 mg dexamethasone phosphate (DEX-P), betamethasone phosphate (BET-P), or 1:1 mixture of betamethasone phosphate and acetate (BET-PA) were administered orally (PO) or intramuscularly (IM). Plasma concentrations collected for two periods over 96 h were described with a two-compartment model with differing PO and IM first-order absorption inputs. Clearances and volumes were divided by the IM bioavailability [Formula: see text]. The homogeneous ages, body weights, and ethnicity of the women obviated covariate analysis. Parameter estimates were obtained by the Laplace estimation method implemented in NONMEM 7.4. Typical values for dexamethasone were clearance ([Formula: see text] of 9.29 L/h, steady-state volume ([Formula: see text] of 56.4 L, IM absorption constant [Formula: see text] of 0.460 1/h and oral absorption constant ([Formula: see text] of 0.936 1/h. Betamethasone parameters were CL/FIM of 5.95 L/h, [Formula: see text] of 72.4 L, [Formula: see text] of 0.971 1/h, and [Formula: see text] of 1.21 1/h. The PO to IM F values were close to 1.0 for both drugs. The terminal half-lives averaged about 7.5 h for DEX, 17 h for BET, and 78 h for BET from BET-PA with the latter reflecting very slow release of BET from the acetate ester. Overall, BET exhibited slower clearance, larger volume of distribution, faster absorption, and longer persistence than DEX. These data may be useful in considering exposures when substituting one form of corticosteroid for another.

Safety of epidural steroids: a review

Spine disease is one of the most common musculoskeletal diseases, especially in an aging society. An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a highly effective treatment that can be used to bridge the gap between physical therapy and surgery. Recently, it has been increasingly used clinically. The purpose of this article is to review the complications of corticosteroids administered epidurally. Common complications include: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, adrenal insufficiency, iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, and immunological or infectious diseases. Other less common complications include psychiatric problems and ocular ailments. However, the incidence of complications related to epidural steroids is not high, and most of them are not serious. The use of nonparticulate steroids is recommended to minimize the complications associated with epidural steroids. The appropriate interval and dosage of ESI are disputed. We recommend that the selection of appropriate ESI protocol should be based on the suppression of HPA axis, which reflects the systemic absorption of the corticosteroid.

Changes in Maternal Heart Rate Variability in Response to the Administration of Routine Obstetric Medication in Hospitalized Patients: Study Protocol for a Cohort Study (MAMA-Heart Study)

Pregnancy is a period of continuous change in the maternal cardiovascular system, partly mediated by the autonomic nervous system. Insufficient autonomic adaptation to increasing gestation is associated with pregnancy complications, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm birth (both major causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality). Consequently, maternal heart rate variability (mHRV), which is a proxy measure for autonomic activity, is increasingly assessed in these cohorts to investigate the pathophysiology of their complications. A better pathophysiological understanding could facilitate the early detection of these complications, which remains challenging. However, such studies (typically performed in pregnancies leading to hospitalization) have generated conflicting findings. A probable reason for these conflicting findings is that these study cohorts were likely administered routine obstetric medications during the study period of which the effects on mHRV are largely unknown. Subsequently, we design a longitudinal, observational study to quantifying the effect of these medications-particularly corticosteroids, which are known to affect fetal HRV-on mHRV to improve the interpretation of past and future studies. We will enroll 61 women admitted to a tertiary obstetric unit with an indication to receive corticosteroids antenatally. Participants' mHRV will be continuously acquired throughout their hospitalization with wrist-worn photoplethysmography to facilitate a within-patient comparison of the effect of corticosteroids on mHRV.

Dexamethasone versus betamethasone for preterm birth: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the comparative clinical effectiveness and safety of dexamethasone vs betamethasone for preterm birth.

DATA SOURCES

The sources searched were MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, LILACS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform without language restrictions until October 2019 in addition to the reference lists of included studies. Field experts were also contacted.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing any corticosteroids against each other or against placebo at any dose for preterm birth were included in the study.

METHODS

Three researchers independently selected and extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies by using Early Review Organizing Software and Covidence software. Random-effects pairwise meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis were performed. The primary outcomes were chorioamnionitis, endometritis or puerperal sepsis, neonatal death, respiratory distress syndrome, and neurodevelopmental disability.

RESULTS

A total of 45 trials (11,227 women and 11,878 infants) were included in the study. No clinical or statistical difference was found between dexamethasone and betamethasone in neonatal death (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-1.84; moderate-certainty evidence), neurodevelopmental disability (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-1.33; moderate-certainty evidence), intraventricular hemorrhage (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-1.78); low-certainty evidence), or birthweight (+5.29 g; 95% confidence interval, -49.79 to 58.97; high-certainty evidence). There was no statistically significant difference, but a potentially clinically important effect was found between dexamethasone and betamethasone in chorioamnionitis (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.45-1.06; moderate-certainty evidence), fetal death (odds ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-2.41; low-certainty evidence), puerperal sepsis (odds ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.72-6.06; low-certainty evidence), and respiratory distress syndrome (odds ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-2.11; moderate-certainty evidence). Meta-regression, subgroup, and sensitivity analyses did not reveal important changes regarding the main analysis.

CONCLUSION

Corticosteroids have proven effective for most neonatal and child-relevant outcomes compared with placebo or no treatment for women at risk of preterm birth. No important difference was found on neonatal death, neurodevelopmental disability, intraventricular hemorrhage, and birthweight between corticosteroids, and there was no statistically significant difference, but a potentially important difference was found in chorioamnionitis, fetal death, endometritis or puerperal sepsis, and respiratory distress syndrome. Further research is warranted to improve the certainty of evidence and inform health policies.

Antenatal corticosteroids: a reappraisal of the drug formulation and dose

We review the history of antenatal corticosteroid therapy (ACS) and present recent experimental data to demonstrate that this, one of the pillars of perinatal care, has been inadequately evaluated to minimize fetal exposure to these powerful medications. There have been concerns since 1972 that fetal exposures to ACS convey risk. However, this developmental modulator, with its multiple widespread biologic effects, has not been evaluated for drug choice, dose, or duration of treatment, despite over 30 randomized trials. The treatment used in the United States is two intramuscular doses of a mixture of 6 mg betamethasone phosphate (Beta P) and 6 mg betamethasone acetate (Beta Ac). To optimize outcomes with ACS, the goal should be to minimize fetal drug exposure. We have determined that the minimum exposure needed for fetal lung maturation in sheep, monkeys, and humans (based on published cord blood corticosteroid concentrations) is about 1 ng/ml for a 48-h continuous exposure, far lower than the concentration reached by the current dosing. Because the slowly released Beta Ac results in prolonged fetal exposure, a drug containing Beta Ac is not ideal for ACS use. IMPACT: Using sheep and monkey models, we have defined the minimum corticosteroid exposure for a fetal lung maturation. These results should generate new clinical trials of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) at much lower fetal exposures to ACS, possibly given orally, with fewer risks for the fetus.

Antenatal Dexamethasone for Early Preterm Birth in Low-Resource Countries

BACKGROUND

The safety and efficacy of antenatal glucocorticoids in women in low-resource countries who are at risk for preterm birth are uncertain.

METHODS

We conducted a multicountry, randomized trial involving pregnant women between 26 weeks 0 days and 33 weeks 6 days of gestation who were at risk for preterm birth. The participants were assigned to intramuscular dexamethasone or identical placebo. The primary outcomes were neonatal death alone, stillbirth or neonatal death, and possible maternal bacterial infection; neonatal death alone and stillbirth or neonatal death were evaluated with superiority analyses, and possible maternal bacterial infection was evaluated with a noninferiority analysis with the use of a prespecified margin of 1.25 on the relative scale.

RESULTS

A total of 2852 women (and their 3070 fetuses) from 29 secondary- and tertiary-level hospitals across Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan underwent randomization. The trial was stopped for benefit at the second interim analysis. Neonatal death occurred in 278 of 1417 infants (19.6%) in the dexamethasone group and in 331 of 1406 infants (23.5%) in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.97; P = 0.03). Stillbirth or neonatal death occurred in 393 of 1532 fetuses and infants (25.7%) and in 444 of 1519 fetuses and infants (29.2%), respectively (relative risk, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.99; P = 0.04); the incidence of possible maternal bacterial infection was 4.8% and 6.3%, respectively (relative risk, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.03). There was no significant between-group difference in the incidence of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Among women in low-resource countries who were at risk for early preterm birth, the use of dexamethasone resulted in significantly lower risks of neonatal death alone and stillbirth or neonatal death than the use of placebo, without an increase in the incidence of possible maternal bacterial infection. (Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization; Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, ACTRN12617000476336; Clinical Trials Registry-India number, CTRI/2017/04/008326.).

Elimination profiles of betamethasone after different administration routes: Evaluation of the reporting level and washout periods to ensure safe therapeutic administrations

Betamethasone (BET) is prohibited in sports competitions when administered by systemic routes, and it is allowed by other routes for therapeutic purposes. In out-of-competition periods, there is no restriction of use. The present work aimed to assess the urinary excretion of BET and its metabolites after allowed and prohibited administrations to verify the suitability of the current reporting level of 30 ng/ml used to distinguish allowed and prohibited administrations and to establish washout periods for oral and intramuscular (IM) administrations when out-of-competition treatments are needed. BET was administered to healthy volunteers by different routes: topical (10 mg/day for 5 days, n = 6 males), intranasal (320 μg/day for 3 days, n = 4 males and 4 females), oral (0.5 mg, n = 8 males) or IM (6 mg, n = 6 males, or 12 mg, n = 4 males and 4 females). Urine and plasma samples collected before and after administration were analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Among all studied metabolites, the parent drug was selected as the best discriminatory marker. After topical administration, BET concentrations were lower than 6.6 ng/ml. However, after intranasal treatment, some samples at concentrations close to or higher than 30 ng/ml were detected, suggesting the need to revise the current reporting level. Urinary concentrations after oral and intranasal administrations were similar, and after IM administration, concentrations were much higher. Taking into account all information, a urinary reporting level of 60 ng/ml is proposed. Washout periods of at least 48 and 96 h are recommended after oral and IM administrations, respectively.

Neonatal and Maternal Outcomes of Lower Versus Standard Doses of Antenatal Corticosteroids for Women at Risk of Preterm Delivery: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to systematically review randomized and quasi-randomized trials on the neonatal and maternal effects of lower doses of antenatal corticosteroids (<24 mg of betamethasone or dexamethasone) compared with standard double doses of antenatal corticosteroids (24 mg of betamethasone or dexamethasone) administered to women at risk of preterm delivery.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry were searched from inception to December 8, 2019.

STUDY SELECTION

A total of 2401 titles, abstracts, and protocols were independently screened by two reviewers, and subsequently 113 full-text articles were reviewed.

DATA EXTRACTION

Our primary outcomes were perinatal death and severe respiratory distress syndrome.

DATA SYNTHESIS

We identified one large in-progress trial comparing 11.4 mg versus 22.8 mg betamethasone and one published randomized controlled trial that compared a lower dose of dexamethasone (16 mg) to a standard dose of betamethasone (24 mg). The only relevant data from the published trial suggests minor changes in fetal heart rate variability between baseline and 24- to 48-hour follow-up between the two groups. Data for other outcomes had to be excluded due to the administration of weekly courses of antenatal corticosteroids.

CONCLUSIONS

Randomized trial data comparing lower doses of antenatal corticosteroids to standard double doses are scarce. Given concerns regarding current antenatal corticosteroids dosing patterns, there is an urgent need for randomized controlled trials examining lower versus standard double doses of antenatal corticosteroids.

Immune System Remodelling by Prenatal Betamethasone: Effects on β-Cells and Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a multifactorial disease of unknown aetiology. Studies focusing on environment-related prenatal changes, which might have an influence on the development of T1D, are still missing. Drugs, such as betamethasone, are used during this critical period without exploring possible effects later in life. Betamethasone can interact with the development and function of the two main players in T1D, the immune system and the pancreatic β-cells. Short-term or persistent changes in any of these two players may influence the initiation of the autoimmune reaction against β-cells. In this review, we focus on the ability of betamethasone to induce alterations in the immune system, impairing the recognition of autoantigens. At the same time, betamethasone affects β-cell gene expression and apoptosis rate, reducing the danger signals that will attract unwanted attention from the immune system. These effects may synergise to hinder the autoimmune attack. In this review, we compile scattered evidence to provide a better understanding of the basic relationship between betamethasone and T1D, laying the foundation for future studies on human cohorts that will help to fully grasp the role of betamethasone in the development of T1D.