Antenatal betamethasone regimen for women at risk of preterm birth

Abstract

2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark study1 by Liggins and Howie evaluating the benefit of antenatal corticosteroids in reducing respiratory morbidity.1 By the early 1990s, obstetrical societies worldwide supported its use in women at risk of preterm birth. However, although the benefit of reduced neonatal mortality and morbidity are striking, recent studies have raised concerns that fetal exposure to antenatal corticosteroids might be associated with physical, mental, and developmental disorders.