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Upper and lower gastrointestinal complications with dexamethasone despite H 2 antagonists
Author(s) -
McDONNELL M.,
EVANS N.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1995.tb00766.x
Subject(s) - medicine , gastrointestinal perforation , necrotizing enterocolitis , dexamethasone , gastrointestinal disease , perforation , concomitant , intensive care unit , cimetidine , surgery , pediatrics , disease , peritonitis , materials science , punching , metallurgy
Objectives: To describe three preterm babies who developed gastrointestinal complications during treatment with dexamethasone for chronic lung disease, during a 10 month period. Methodology Case reports in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. Results All three babies had received intravenous cimetidine since the commencement of steroid therapy, and developed gastrointestinal complications. There was no evidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in either of the two babies with gastrointestinal perforation. This is the first report of lower gastrointestinal complications associated with dexamethasone therapy. Conclusion Recommendation of concomitant use of H 2 antagonists with steroid therapy may be premature, and requires testing with a randomized controlled trial.