Potential labor-promoting effects of glucocorticoid administration in threatened preterm pregnant women
10.3760/cma.j.cn113903-20241216-00834
- VernacularTitle:先兆早产孕妇应用糖皮质激素具有潜在的促分娩作用
- Author:
Jiangwen LU
1
;
Lijun LING
;
Wangsheng WANG
;
Hao YING
;
Gang SUN
Author Information
1. 上海交通大学医学院附属仁济医院生殖医学中心（上海市辅助生殖与优生优育重点实验室），上海 200135
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Glucocorticoids;
Estrogen;
Labor;
Preterm birth;
Placenta;
Fetal membrane
- From:
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine
2025;28(7):608-614
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Glucocorticoids play a critical role in initiating parturition in most mammals, including humans. In humans, their labor-promoting mechanisms primarily involve promoting estrogen and prostaglandin synthesis, inducing functional progesterone withdrawal, and facilitating membrane rupture. However, the administration of synthetic glucocorticoids—whether intramuscular, intravenous, or intra-amniotic—can variably trigger labor and may even contribute to the development of fetal programming of adult diseases. Clinically, synthetic glucocorticoids are primarily used in threatened preterm pregnant women to enhance fetal lung maturation and improve neonatal outcomes, rather than to intervene in the delivery process. Therefore, strict control over the timing and dosage of synthetic glucocorticoids is essential to balance their benefits for fetal lung development against the risks of unintended labor induction.
