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Effects of corticosteroids on fetal lung maturation

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The Surfactant System of the Lung

Abstract

Several investigations and controlled trials have shown that antenatal administration of corticosteroids leads to a significant reduction in the occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and to an overall decrease in neonatal mortality among prematurely delivered infants [1,2]. The effects of corticosteroids on the fetal lung are multilayered and affect a number of aspects of lung maturation. In order to elucidate the mechanisms by which corticosteroids enhance fetal lung maturation, we examined the effects of antenatal administration of betamethasone on different properties of lungs from prematurely delivered rabbit neonates.

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References

  1. Collaborative Group on Antenatal Steroid Therapy. Effect of antenatal dexamethasone therapy on prevention of respiratory distress syndrome. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1981; 141: 276–87.

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  2. Crowley, P., Chalmers, I. and Keirse, M. J. N. The effects of corticosteroid administration before preterm delivery: an overview of the evidence from controlled trials. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1990; 97: 11–25.

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  3. Anceschi, M. M., Palmerini, C. A., Guida, E., Broccucci, L., Luzi, P. and Cosmi, E. V. Fetal rabbit lung collagen and elastin: ontogeny and effects of steroids. Pediatr Res 1990; 27: 295A.

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  4. Anceschi, M. M., Petrelli, A., Zaccardo, G., Barbati, A., Di Renzo, G. C., Cosmi, E. V. and Hallman, M. Myo-inositol and glucocorticoid in the development of lung stability in male and female fetuses. Pediatr Res 1988; 241: 617–21.

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  5. Anceschi, M. M., Robertson, B., Broccucci, L., Barbati, A., Grossman, G., Hedenborg, L., Petrelli, A., Zaccardo, G. and Cosmi, E. V. Immunochemical and immunohistochemical evaluation of lung permeability in ventilated newborn rabbits. Exp Lung Res in press.

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Authors
  1. Maurizio M. Anceschi
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  2. Paola Luzi
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  3. Lorena Broccucci
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  4. Gian Carlo Di Renzo
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  5. Ermelando V. Cosmi
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Second Institute of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    E. V. Cosmi

  2. Institute of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Perugia, Policlinico Monteluce, Perugia, Italy

    G. C. Di Renzo

  3. Second Institute of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    M. M. Anceschi

Copyright information

© 1991 Macmillan Publishers Limited

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Anceschi, M.M., Luzi, P., Broccucci, L., Di Renzo, G.C., Cosmi, E.V. (1991). Effects of corticosteroids on fetal lung maturation. In: Cosmi, E.V., Di Renzo, G.C., Anceschi, M.M. (eds) The Surfactant System of the Lung. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-12553-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-12553-1_4

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-12555-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-12553-1

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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