Maternal adipose tissue, antenatal steroids, and Respiratory Distress syndrome: complex relations

Özet

The incidences of maternal obesity and obesity-related maternal, fetal andneonatal complications have increased considerably. Obese people may havelower, normal or increased fat mass independent from their body mass index.We aimed to investigate the relationships between antenatal steroid therapyand maternal body fat ratio for the risk of Respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) in preterm infants.Pregnant women and their newborn infants between 24-34 weeks of gestation,who received a full course of antenatal steroid therapy were included in thestudy. Mother’s body weight, body mass ındex (BMI), and body compositions(muscle, fat, water) were calculated using the bioelectrical impedance method5 days after giving birth. Neonatal characteristics and respiratory outcomeswere noted.A total of 42 mothers and their single premature infants were included in thestudy. Nineteen (45.2%) infants developed RDS (Group 1) while 23 (54.8%)infants did not develop RDS (Group 2). The mean body fat mass (kg), fatratio (%), truncal fat mass (kg), and truncal fat ratio (%) were statisticallysignificantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2. The incidence of RDS wassignificantly higher in the group of mothers with a body fat ratio >30.0%(n=15/24, 62.5%) when compared with the group of mothers with a body fatratio ≤ 30% (n=4/18, 22.2%) (p=0.013).Maternal adipose tissue plays an important role and should be taken intoconsideration especially in obese women, before giving antenatal steroids toachieve positive effects of the therapy in preterm infants.