Investigation of the optimum activity time and effect on fetaldoppler parameters of antenatal betamethasone application

O promote fetal lung development synthetic glucocorticoid therapy is administered to pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery. This treatment, which is administered after the second half of pregnancy, has no known side effects on the fetus. The treatment is given to pregnant women between 24-34 weeks of gestation. In this study, we will examine the important blood flow values for the development of the baby after the administration of betamethasone to pregnant women with growth retardation. Methods: Between 01.07.2021 and 01.07.2022, 100 pregnant women between 24-34 weeks of gestation who applied to the Adıyaman Women's Health and Polyclinic or emergency department were included in our study. Doppler ultrasonography was performed on four important vessels (umbilical, uterine, MCA, and DV) for pregnant women who did not receive betamethasone treatment during their pregnancy. Prophylactic lung maturation was provided by administering betamethasone 12 mg IM at a 24-hour interval. Doppler parameters were measured again at 24, 48, and 72 hours. PI (pulsatility index) and RI (resistance index) values were examined in the Doppler results. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for the comparison of variables that showed normal distribution and those that did not. Continuous and categorical variables were reported as median value, mean value, or percentage. The 'Repeated Measures ANOVA Test' was used to compare the repeated measurements of Doppler parameters. The Sphericity Test was performed to analyze whether there was a significant difference between the variances. Bonferroni correction was used for group comparisons. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The study included 100 pregnant women with a mean age of 30.51±5.52 and a mean week of gestation of 29.48±2.09 weeks. All pregnant women were treated with betamethasone. No significant difference was found between the umbilical artery, uterine artery, ductus venosus, and MCA Doppler parameters on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days before and after the application of betamethasone. The results showed that antenatal corticosteroid administration is associated with significant but transient changes in fetal blood flow. Therefore, fetal follow-up with Doppler ultrasonography and BFP is recommended after antenatal corticosteroid administration.