Postnatal glucocorticoids in preterm neonates: use in French neonatal centres in 2006

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition Vol. 93; no. 5; p. F398
• Main Authors: Autret-Leca, E, Bauer, S, Alberti, C, Jonville-Béra, A P, Aujard, Y, Bensouda-Grimaldi, L, Baud, O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.09.2008; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - drug therapy; Drug Administration Schedule; France; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Health Care Surveys; Hemodynamics; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Letters; Lung diseases; Neonates; Newborn babies; Postpartum period; Premature babies; Questionnaires; Steroids; Treatment Outcome; France
• ISSN: 1359-2998; 1468-2052; 1468-2052
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2008.141085

Professor E Autret-Leca, Service de Pharmacologie—CHRU de Tours—2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours cedex 9, France; autret-leca@med.univ-tours.fr In 1999, 80% of French neonatal centres used corticosteroids, mainly betamethasone, to prevent or to treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).1 As many data suggested a low benefit/risk ratio, an updated assessment of this use was necessary.2–5 Methods Questionnaires addressing the use of and indications for corticosteroids were sent to all French neonatal centres. Of these 186 centres, 147 (79%) units had a standard protocol for corticosteroids use, covering systemic and inhaled steroids (76 units), systemic steroid therapy only (30 units) and inhaled steroids only (41 units). Discussion The high response rate (92%) ensures that our data are representative.