At. Gibson et al., GROWTH-RETARDATION AFTER DEXAMETHASONE ADMINISTRATION - ASSESSMENT BYKNEMOMETRY, Archives of Disease in Childhood, 69(5), 1993, pp. 505-509
Knemometry has been used to measure lower leg growth during 32 nine da
y courses of dexamethasone in 26 babies ranging from 24 to 32 weeks' g
estation at birth. Mean leg length velocity was 0.37 mm/day in the 10
days before steroids. Administration of dexamethasone was associated w
ith a decrease in velocity in all babies, and in 15 leg shortening was
documented. Mean leg length velocity during steroid treatment was -0.
003 mm/day. After the course of dexamethasone was completed there was
an immediate increase in leg length velocity to a mean of 0.52 mm/day
over the first 10 days then falling to a value similar to the growth v
elocity observed before treatment. Leg length had reached the value pr
edicted by growth before steroids about 30 days after dexamethasone. T
he reduction in leg length velocity occurred despite a significant inc
rease in energy intake and decrease in oxygen requirements.