Abstract
Background Maternal risks of betamethasone have been rarely reported. Case At 36 weeks' gestation, a previously healthy 23-year-old gravida with fetal intrauterine growth restriction was admitted to the hospital for steroid administration. Twenty-six hours after the first dose of betamethasone, a maternal bradycardia was initially noted and eventually nadired at 41 beats per minute. Consultation with the cardio-electrophysiology service revealed no other apparent etiologies for the sinus bradycardia. Due to the asymptomatic nature of the maternal bradycardia, pharmacologic interventions were not recommended. With observation alone, a normal maternal heart rate returned by forty-nine hours after the original betamethasone injection. The patient subsequently had an uneventful intrapartum course. Conclusion Maternal bradycardia can be associated with antenatal betamethasone administration. Due to the transient nature of this side effect, expectant management is recommended as the treatment option for asymptomatic patients.
Highlights
Antenatal corticosteroid administration has been shown to reduce the risk of neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and respiratory distress syndrome [1]. erefore, a single course of corticosteroids is currently recommended for patients at risk of preterm delivery within seven days who are within the gestational age of 24 weeks through 33 weeks and 6 days
A normal maternal heart rate returned by forty-nine hours a er the original betamethasone injection. e patient was discharged to home, with a pulse of 67 beats per minute
Taylor and Gaco reported a symptomatic sinus bradycardia which was induced by a five-day course of high dose oral prednisolone in a multiple sclerosis patient [7]
Summary
Maternal risks of betamethasone have been rarely reported. At 36 weeks’ gestation, a previously healthy 23-year-old gravida with fetal intrauterine growth restriction was admitted to the hospital for steroid administration. Twenty-six hours a er the rst dose of betamethasone, a maternal bradycardia was initially noted and eventually nadired at 41 beats per minute. Consultation with the cardio-electrophysiology service revealed no other apparent etiologies for the sinus bradycardia. Due to the asymptomatic nature of the maternal bradycardia, pharmacologic interventions were not recommended. A normal maternal heart rate returned by forty-nine hours a er the original betamethasone injection. E patient subsequently had an uneventful intrapartum course. Maternal bradycardia can be associated with antenatal betamethasone administration. Due to the transient nature of this side e ect, expectant management is recommended as the treatment option for asymptomatic patients
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