Dexamethasone therapy interferes with the development of the neutrophil oxidative burst in vitro in very low birthweight infants

• Published in: American journal of perinatology Vol. 24; no. 4; p. 223
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Magdy, Fleit, Howard B, Golightly, Marc G, La Gamma, Edmund F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2007
• Subjects: Anti-Inflammatory Agents - adverse effects; Dexamethasone - adverse effects; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - blood; Male; Neutrophils - drug effects; Neutrophils - physiology; Pilot Projects; Respiratory Burst - drug effects
• ISSN: 0735-1631
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-973442

Dexamethasone therapy is used in the treatment of chronic lung disease in very low birthweight (VLBW) neonates. However, several significant side effects have been observed in these patients, including an increased incidence of infection. We initiated a pilot study to examine the in vitro function of neutrophils from dexamethasone-treated VLBW infants. Following a 1-week course of dexamethasone, VLBW infants failed to demonstrate the increased oxidative burst that was observed in the age- and weight-matched untreated infants. These observations support recent evidence raising concern about effects on other organs when using dexamethasone in mechanically ventilated infants. In this example, impaired oxidative burst may be among the cellular factors contributing to the increased risk of infection during corticosteroid use in VLBW neonates in the neonatal intensive care setting.