CORTICOTERAPIA ANTENATAL TARDIA, RISCOS E BENEFÍCIOS MATERNOS E FETAIS: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

This article addressed late antenatal corticosteroid therapy, a treatment that has been adopted in pregnant women between 34 0/7 weeks and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation, and who are at high risk of premature birth. One of the main complications and causes of morbidity in late preterm neonates is respiratory distress syndromes, and corticosteroids can aid in fetal lung maturation, preventing and/or reducing complications of this nature. However, the use of these drugs in the late antenatal period can pose some risks to the well-being and health of the mother-baby binomial. Therefore, the general objective of this article was to analyze the literary evidence about the efficacy of late antenatal corticosteroid therapy, both for the fetus and the pregnant woman. The specific objectives were to understand how corticosteroids should be administered, and whether the benefits provided outweigh the potential risks of their use at this stage of pregnancy. A literature review on the topic was developed, including scientific articles published in the last five years (2019-2024). Data collection was carried out through PubMED. The results confirmed that late antenatal corticosteroid therapy is effective in reducing pulmonary complications and should be considered in cases of high risk of premature birth. The main risks are increased chances of maternal hyperglycemia and, consequently, fetal hypoglycemia. Some studies also point to psychological and neurocognitive problems for the baby in the future. However, it was concluded that the benefits brought by corticosteroids to lung maturity outweigh the potential maternal and fetal risks, but treatment should be carried out with caution, evaluating each case individually and monitoring the long-term repercussions.