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
Strong
Certainty of evidence
Very low
Antenatal corticosteroid therapy is recommended for women at risk of imminent preterm birth of a growth-restricted fetus.
Notes and Remarks
- 1.The GDG noted the limited evidence on the benefits of antenatal corticosteroid in this subgroup of women. However, the group placed its emphasis on the overall benefits of antenatal corticosteroid, the potential benefits in terms of reduced handicap among surviving intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) infants, and evidence of reduced odds of adverse newborn mortality and morbidity outcomes, and therefore made a strong recommendation.
- 2.The GDG acknowledged the concern about the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on fetal growth, but agreed that there is no evidence to suggest that steroids will perform differently in this subgroup compared to the overall preterm population