Evaluation of Hypoglycemia in Neonates of Women at Risk for Late Preterm Delivery: An Antenatal Late Preterm Steroids Trial Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: In the antenatal late preterm steroids (ALPS) trial betamethasone significantly decreased short-term neonatal respiratory morbidity but increased the risk of neonataloglycemia, diagnosed only categorically (72 hours was rare and similar in both groups, nine (2.4%, betamethasone) and four (1.9%, placebo, p = 0.18). CONCLUSION: In this cohort, hypoglycemia was transient and most received no treatment, with a quicker resolution in the betamethasone group. Prolonged hypoglycemia was uncommon irrespective of steroid exposure. KEY POINTS: . Hypoglycemia was transient and approximately two-thirds received no treatment.. . Neonates in the ALPS trial who received betamethasone had a shorter time to resolution than those with hypoglycemia in the placebo group.. . Prolonged hypoglycemia occurred in approximately 2 out of 100 late preterm newborns, irrespective of antenatal steroid exposure..