Effect of antenatal betamethasone administration on neonatal cardiac autonomic balance

Pediatr Res. 2010 Oct;68(4):286-91. doi: 10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181ed0cf2.

Abstract

Beneficial effects of antenatal glucocorticoid treatment in pregnancies at risk for preterm delivery may entail long-term consequences for the establishment of sympathoadrenergic system balance. We analyzed the cardiac autonomic system activity in neonates with a single course of antenatal betamethasone (2 × 12 mg) treatment by calculating heart rate variability (HRV) time-domain parameters from 24 h ECG recordings and short-term frequency-domain parameters during infant active and resting states. In addition, resting and challenged salivary α-amylase levels were measured in 23 betamethasone-exposed neonates and compared with controls. Indicators for overall HRV (SDNN: p = 0.258; triangular index: p = 0.179) and sympathovagal balance [low- to high-frequency power (LF/HF): p = 0.82 (resting state)] were not significantly different in neonates of the betamethasone treatment group. Parameters mostly influenced by sympathetic activity [SD of the average of valid NN intervals (SDANN): p = 0.184 and SDs of all NN intervals (SDNNi): p = 0.784] and vagal tone [RMSSD: p = 1.0; NN50: p = 0.852; HF: p = 0.785 (resting state)] were unaltered. Resting α-amylase levels were not significantly different in the betamethasone treatment group (p = 0.304); however, α-amylase release after a neonatal challenge was slightly reduced (p = 0.045). Thus, cardiac autonomic balance seems to be preserved in neonates exposed to a single course of antenatal betamethasone treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Autonomic Nervous System / drug effects*
  • Betamethasone / administration & dosage*
  • Betamethasone / adverse effects
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Fetal Organ Maturity / drug effects*
  • Gestational Age
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage*
  • Glucocorticoids / adverse effects
  • Heart / innervation*
  • Heart Rate / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / embryology
  • Male
  • Premature Birth*
  • Saliva / enzymology
  • Switzerland
  • Time Factors
  • alpha-Amylases / metabolism

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Betamethasone
  • alpha-Amylases