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Subject Area

Dermatology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background Maternal administration of dexamethasone is essential to improve fetal lung surfactant production and hasten the fetal lung maturity in women at risk for preterm birth. Umbilical and fetal middle cerebral arteries' (MCAs) Doppler indices are important to evaluate the effects of dexamethason on fetal and uteroplacental circulation in pregnancies at risk for preterm birth. Objective The aim was to evaluate the effects of maternal dexamethasone administration on umbilical and fetal MCAs Doppler indices (Resistance index (RI), Pulsalitility index (PI), and S/D ratio) in singleton pregnancies considered at risk for preterm delivery. Patients and methods A total of 100 women were included in this study. They were at risk of preterm labor and were divided in two groups: 50 participants who took dexamethasone as a study group and 50 participants did not take dexamethasone as a control group. Doppler examination of umbilical and MCAs was performed, and comparisons between values of study group and control group were done after 0, 1, 4, and 7 weeks of dexamethasone administration. Results The authors found a significant change in the mean values of the pulsatility and resistive indices and systolic-diastolic ratios of study group in umbilical artery and fetal MCA after 1 week after dexamethasone administration. Conclusion Administration of dexamethasone improves Doppler indices and biophysical profile and decreases NICU admission. In healthy fetuses, a transient, significant, and unexplained decrease in fetal MCA impedance occurs on the fourth day following maternal dexamethasone administration.

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