Effects of Antenatal Dexamethasone Administration on the Fetal Biophysical Activities | ||
| Evidence Based Women's Health Journal | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 31 October 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ebwhj.2025.428012.1526 | ||
| Authors | ||
| raghda ahmed egiz1; ahmed mahmoud badawy2; Mohamed Sayed Abdelhafez3; ahmed mahmoud elashry* 2 | ||
| 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dikirnis general hospital, Dakahlia, Egypt | ||
| 2department of obstetrics and gynecology , Mansoura universuty ,Egypt | ||
| 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Preterm labor remains a significant challenge in obstetrics care due to its association with high neonatal morbidity and mortality. Particularly respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Antenatal corticosteroid widely administrated to enhance fetal lung maturity, reducing RDS incidence. However, the broader effects of dexamethasone on feral biophysical profile remains inadequately understood Objective: to evaluate the impact of antenatal corticosteroids administration to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality on the fetal biophysical activities over a seven-day period following administration Study design: prospective cohort study conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mansoura university, Egypt. The study included 100 pregnant women at risk of preterm labor or scheduled for elective cesarean delivery before 39 weeks of gestation. Each patient received routine intramuscular dexamethasone (6 mg every 12 hours for 48 hours) between 23 and 35 weeks of gestation. Fetal biophysical activities were evaluated at baseline and at immediately, 2,4 and 7 days’ post administration using ultrasound and Non-stress test Results: Dexamethasone administration resulted in a transient suppression of fetal heart rate reactivity and breathing movement. Non-Stress test reactivity, Fetal breathing movements and Fetal body movements significantly declined from 100% at baseline to 17%, 18% and 48% respectively at day 2, with recovery to 100% by day 7 (P<0.001). Fetal tone and amniotic fluid volume remained largely unchanged. Conclusion: Dexamethasone administration transiently suppress fetal heart rate reactivity, breathing movement and body movements, with recovery within one week. Despite these temporary effects, dexamethasone remains a safe and effective for improving neonatal preterm outcomes | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Preterm labor; antenatal corticosteroids; dexamethasone; fetal biophysical profile | ||
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