Empleo prenatal de esteroides: riesgos y beneficios

A single course of corticosteroids given to women before an anticipated preterm birth reduces the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, and neonatal death. For women who do not deliver within 1 week, administration of repeat courses of corticosteroids has become common obstetric practice, despite little evidence of efficacy. Emerging data suggest that this practice produces little benefit and may potentially be harmful. Therefore, the use of corticosteroids to improve perinatal outcomes should be restricted to a single course.