prednisone and conception

My husband and I were trying to conceive when he was taking prednisone. I just found out today that I am pregnant, and started to think if there would be any problems/deformities in the baby that could arise from him "being on" prednisone. Does anyone know anything about this? Please let me know.
Thanks, Sheilg

Posted by: sheilagPosts: 2 :: 14-02-2004 :: | Reply to this Message

Re: prednisone and conception

Steroids (Prednisolone) can be safely taken in Pregnancy. They should be stopped 2 weeks before labor. There is no adverse effects reported in Human Fetusus.

In order to prevent side effects (osteoporosis) regularly take Oral Calcium and Vitamin D along with that.

[Edited by docosama on 02-14-2004 at 05:15 PM GMT]

Posted by: docosamaPosts: 333 :: 14-02-2004 :: | Reply to this Message

Re: Re: prednisone and conception

quote:

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docosama wrote:
Steroids (Prednisolone) can be safely taken in Pregnancy. They should be stopped 2 weeks before labor. There is no adverse effect reported to Fetus.

In order to prevent side effects (osteoporosis) regularly take Oral Calcium and Vitamin D along with that.

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Complete Nonsense,
Read on:

The use and abuse of steroids in perinatal medicine.

Rajadurai VS, Tan KH.

Department of Neonatology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899. samuel@kkh.com.sg

Corticosteroids are one of the most powerful drugs increasingly used in the perinatal and neonatal period. This review discusses the merits and demerits of antenatal as well as postnatal use of steroids. A single course of antenatal corticosteroids in women at risk of premature delivery is highly effective in reducing respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular haemorrhage and neonatal mortality and also neurodevelopmental sequelae including cerebral palsy. However, there is less evidence to support the practice of multiple courses of corticosteroids, with some animal and retrospective human studies suggesting an association with neurological impairment and reduction in birth weight as well as lung weight. Postnatal systemic corticosteroids have shown benefits in reducing chronic lung disease and improving survival for infants. However, besides short-term adverse effects, the follow-up studies have raised concern that they may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disability, particularly cerebral palsy in survivors. Systemic corticosteroids may have a role in infants who had repeated and prolonged intubations and those with pressor-resistant hypotension. Alternative strategies for prevention of chronic lung disease, such as inhaled steroids, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone, may need further studies with larger sample sizes. Data from animal research have revealed that fetal glucocorticoid exposure may have a role in programming the individual to adult degenerative diseases. Based on the current evidence, it is recommended that women at risk of preterm delivery receive a single course of glucocorticoids. Randomised controlled trials are needed to establish the true effects of multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids. More research is also needed to study the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of both multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids, as well as postnatal corticosteroid therapy.

Posted by: chameedPosts: 173 :: 14-02-2004 :: | Reply to this Message

Re: prednisone and conception

The ACOG Committee Opinion, Antenatal Corticosteroid Therapy for Fetal Maturation provides clinicians with guidance for the use of steroids for women between 24 and 34 weeks gestation. The purpose of corticosteroids is to accelerate fetal lung maturity, and therefore to decrease the incidence of RDS in the preterm infant. The likelihood of RDS in a healthy 35-week infant is very low. The guidelines state: "The use of corticosteroids after 34 weeks of gestation is not recommended unless there is evidence of fetal pulmonary immaturity."

Committee on Obstetric Practice. ACOG committee opinion: antenatal corticosteroid therapy for fetal maturation. Obstet Gynecol. 2002;99(5 Pt 1):871-873.

Weekly Course of Steroids Should Not be Administered to Reduce Complications Resulting From Preterm Birth, JAMA Study Says

Pregnant women at risk of delivering before 34 weeks gestation should not be given weekly courses of corticosteroids, substances that mimic adrenal gland hormones, as they have no proven benefit over a single course of steroids and may cause neurological damage to the fetus, according to a study in today's Journal of the American Medical Association. Use of corticosteroids has been shown to reduce the occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage and mortality in premature infants, prompting the NIH in 1994 to recommend giving the drugs to all pregnant women at risk of delivery prior to 34 weeks gestation. Dr. Debra Guinn of the Denver Health Medical System and colleagues conducted a randomized double-blind study comparing single-course versus multi-course corticosteroid use in 502 women at risk for preterm delivery and found that weekly doses of the drug did not reduce composite morbidity compared with a single course of steroids.

Posted by: docosamaPosts: 333 :: 14-02-2004 :: | Reply to this Message

Re: prednisone and conception

In this case the father is taking prednisone. One side effect which should be possible was decrease in the qualiy and quantity of the sperm. After conception it's likely that this was not a major problem in this case ! I don't think there is an increased risk of deformities of the fetus. Mother is not taking steroids !!!

Posted by: baadshah_nPosts: 2 :: 19-02-2004 :: | Reply to this Message

Re: Re: prednisone and conception

quote:

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docosama wrote:
The ACOG Committee Opinion, Antenatal.............??

What's your point about posting ACOG clinical opinion? You made a statement that 'steroids can be taken safely in pregnancy'. That is complete nonsense and ACOG committee opinion simply proves it.

Posted by: chameedPosts: 173 :: 09-05-2004 :: | Reply to this Message