Fetal Adrenal Suppression Due to Maternal Corticosteroid Use: Case Report
Author Information
Author(s): Kurtoğlu Selim, Sarıcı Dilek, Akın Mustafa Ali, Daar Ghaniya, Korkmaz Levent, Memur Şeyma
Primary Institution: Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology, Kayseri, Turkey
Hypothesis
Can maternal corticosteroid use during pregnancy lead to fetal adrenal suppression?
Conclusion
Maternal use of high-dose methylprednisolone can cause fetal adrenal suppression, leading to complications in the newborn.
Supporting Evidence
- Maternal corticosteroids can suppress fetal adrenal glands.
- The newborn was 2680 grams at birth, indicating low birth weight.
- Adrenal glands of the newborn were found to be small on ultrasound.
- Maternal use of 64 mg methylprednisolone per day was reported.
- Neonatal complications included hypoglycemia and hyponatremia.
Takeaway
If a mom takes strong medicine during pregnancy, it can make the baby's adrenal glands not work well, which can cause health problems.
Methodology
Case report of a newborn whose mother used methylprednisolone during pregnancy.
Limitations
The study is based on a single case report, limiting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
A 20-minute-old newborn, born to a mother with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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