New Evidence Available
Updated Recommendation
A new evidence synthesis was published:2022, WHO recommendations on antenatal corticosteroids for improving preterm birth outcomes.
View latest version (2022)Bibliographic Info
GuidelineWHO recommendations on interventions to improve preterm birth outcomes
Year of Publication2015
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Status
Retired
Recommended in favor
Conditional
Certainty of evidence
Very low
Antenatal corticosteroid therapy is not recommended in women undergoing planned caesarean section at late preterm gestations (34–36+6 weeks).
Notes and Remarks
- 1.The GDG noted the paucity of evidence on the balance of benefits versus harms when antenatal corticosteroid is administered to mothers undergoing elective caesarean section (CS) in late preterm. The group acknowledged that while there might be some benefits, there might also be harms. Reference was made to the overall evidence on antenatal corticosteroid, which suggests potential harms in late preterm infants, and the fact that the population providing the evidence also included provider-initiated (elective) preterm birth.
- 2.Elective CS should not normally be performed at any gestational age < 39 weeks.
- 3.The GDG considered this to be a research priority but chose to recommend against the practice until further evidence becomes available.