Epigenetic alterations associated with early prenatal dexamethasone treatment

Abstract

Prenatal treatment with dexamethasone (DEX) has been used to avoid virilization in girls with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). However, it has potential short- and long-term risks and has been associated with cognitive impairments. Here, the authors investigate whether epigenetic modification of DNA during early developmental stages may be a key mediating mechanism by which prenatal DEX treatment could result in poor outcomes in the offspring by comparing genome-wide DNA methylation, from peripheral CD4+ T-cells, between prenatal DEX-treated individuals without CAH and population controls.