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Review Article| Volume 31, ISSUE 3, P529-544, September 2004

Prenatal and postnatal steroid therapy and child neurodevelopment

      Although perinatal steroid therapy offers the potential for profound benefits, concern has been raised regarding its risk–benefit equilibrium in view of short- and long-term adverse effects. Steroids seem to have differential effects on neurodevelopment when administered prenatally or postnatally [
      • Crowley P.
      Prophylactic corticosteroids for preterm birth (Cochrane Review).
      ,
      • Halliday H.L.
      • Ehrenkrantz R.A.
      • Doyle L.W.
      Early postnatal (<96 hours) corticosteroids for preventing chronic lung disease in preterm infants.
      ,
      • Halliday H.L.
      • Ehrenkrantz R.A.
      • Doyle L.W.
      Moderately early postnatal (7–14 days) corticosteroids for preventing chronic lung disease in preterm infants.
      ,
      • Halliday H.L.
      • Ehrenkrantz R.A.
      • Doyle L.W.
      Delayed (>3 weeks) corticosteroids for chronic lung disease in preterm infants.
      ]. This article discusses the current available evidence for these effects while addressing controversial questions on this issue.
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