The effect of hydrocortisone on neurodevelopmental outcome in premature infants less than 29 weeks gestation

Howard Needelman, Arvind Hoskappal, Holly Roberts, Martha Evans, J. B. Bodensteiner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The use of postnatal dexamethasone in premature newborns can be associated with a deleterious neurodevelopmental outcome. The effect of hydrocortisone on developmental outcome in these patients is less clear. We therefore sought to examine the effect of hydrocortisone on early developmental outcome in premature newborns. We retrospectively examined the effect of hydrocortisone on developmental outcome during the first 2 years of life in premature infants <29 weeks gestation at birth. Even though hydrocortisone was used in infants with a greater risk for poor outcome, its use, unless prolonged >7 days, was generally not associated with a worse developmental outcome or higher rate of referral for early intervention. A short course of hydrocortisone in sick premature newborns does not appear to have a deleterious effect on developmental outcome.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)448-452
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Child Neurology
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2010

Keywords

  • Early intervention
  • Hydrocortisone
  • NICU developmental outcome

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Clinical Neurology

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