ESPE Abstracts

Background: There is limited data supporting concerns that systemic corticosteroids, prescribed in pregnancy for maternal health reasons, can suppress the neonatal Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. Our study aimed to determine if neonates born to mothers on long-term or high dose steroids are at risk of adrenal suppression.Methodology: Neonates who underwent assessment of adrenal function over a seven-year perio...

Background: There are multiple indications where evaluation of the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in neonates may be considered e.g. hypoglycaemia, hypotension, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia; however permanent neonatal adrenal insufficiency (AI) is rare. Interpretation of results can be challenging due to a paucity of normative reference data in this population. This risks overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment with corticosteroids leading to the a...