[Administration of glucocorticosteroids to premature infants: increasing evidence of adverse effects].

Neonatal glucocorticosteroid therapy is increasingly being used for the prevention of chronic lung disease in very premature infants. In the short term this therapy is usually successful. There is, however, increasing evidence for long-term adverse effects. In particular there seems to be an increased chance of abnormal brain development, which later results in locomotory dysfunction, developmental delay and cerebral palsy. From experimental studies there are indications that cardiovascular and immunological complications may occur during adult life. Long-term follow-up of neonates treated with glucocorticosteroids seems warranted so that adverse effects that may occur later can be detected and where possible treated. Moreover, the development of alternative treatments should be considered such as the use of less potent glucocorticosteroids.