Toediening van glucocorticosteroïden aan de te vroeg geborene: steeds meer aanwijzingen voor ongewenste bijwerkingen

- Neonatal glucocorticosteroid therapy is increasingly being used for the prevention of chronic lung disease in very premature infants.

- In the short term this therapy is usually successful. There is, however, increasing evidence for long-term adverse effects.

- In particular there seems to be an increased chance of abnormal brain development, which later results in locomotory dysfunction, developmental delay and cerebral palsy.

- From experimental studies there are indications that cardiovascular and immunological complications may occur during adult life.

- Long-term follow-up of neonates treated with glucocorticosteroids seems warranted so that adverse effects that may occur later can be detected and where possible treated.

- Moreover, the development of alternative treatments should be considered such as the use of less potent glucocorticosteroids.