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Effect of short‐term antenatal dexamethasone administration on type I collagen synthesis and degradation in preterm infants at birth
Author(s) -
Saarela T,
Risteli J,
Kauppila A,
Koivisto Maila
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2001.tb02458.x
Subject(s) - medicine , n terminal telopeptide , dexamethasone , gestation , gestational age , endocrinology , procollagen peptidase , type i collagen , bone remodeling , corticosteroid , pregnancy , alkaline phosphatase , osteocalcin , biochemistry , chemistry , biology , genetics , enzyme
To assess the effects of antenatal corticoid administration on foetal collagen metabolism, cord serum concentrations of the aminoterminal propeptide and carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I procollagen (PINP and ICTP), which reflect rates of type I collagen synthesis and degradation, respectively, were measured in 67 consecutive preterm infants with gestational ages ranging from 24 to 32 wk. The samples were divided into three groups, depending on the administration and timing of antenatal corticosteroid treatment for enhancement of foetal lung maturity: cases in which the mothers had received a full 2‐dose administration of dexamethasone on consecutive days 1 to 6 d before delivery ( n = 23; Complete‐Dexa), those who had received only a single dose of dexamethasone less than 24 h before delivery ( n =17; Partial‐Dexa) and those who had not received any antenatal steroids ( n = 27; No‐Dexa). Infants in the Complete‐Dexa group had significantly lower median PINP levels than those in the No‐Dexa group (3326 vs 4028 ug/l; p = 0.036); the median PINP level in the Partial‐Dexa group (3999 ug/l) was close to that of the No‐Dexa group. No significant differences in ICTP concentrations were seen between the groups. Conclusion: A significant suppression of foetal collagen synthesis but not degradation was found to be associated with antenatal dexamethasone administration. This should be taken into consideration, e.g. when assessing whether to administer repeated or single courses of corticosteroids antenatally in high‐risk pregnancies.