Meta-Analysis Of Antenatal Glucocorticoids Treatment For Premature Infant Neurodevelopment

Objective: To evaluate the effect of antenatal glucocorticoids treatment for the premature infant neurodevelopment.Methods: A search for relevant articles published between 1990 to 2010 was run on CNKI, WeiPu, WanFang, Pubmed, EBSCO and Cochrane library database. All researches on the treatment of premature infants with antenatal glucocorticoids were included. The Revman 5.0 software was used for Meta-analysis according to Cochrane system evaluation method. Results: 18 studies involving 9955 patients were included.Meta-analysis showed that for different types, single versus multiple courses of antenatal glucocorticoids ,there was no statistical significance to decrease the periventricular leukomalacia( PVL),intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH) and severe intraventricular hemorrhage(Severe IVH) of premature infants. Comparing with Dexamethasone and no antenatal glucocorticoids, Dexamethasone is better than no treatment in IVH and Severe IVH; Comparing with Bexamethasone and no antenatal glucocorticids, Betamethasone is better than no treatment in IVH. Conclusion: antenatal glucocorticoids can decrease the occurence of IVH and Severe IVH in premature infant. For different types, different courses of antenatal glucocorticiods, there was no significant difference in the premature infant neurodevelopment for PVL,IVH and Severe IVH.