Jb. Vangoudoever et al., EFFECT OF DEXAMETHASONE ON PROTEIN-METABOLISM IN INFANTS WITH BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA, The Journal of pediatrics, 124(1), 1994, pp. 112-118
Corticosteroids result in protein wasting in human adults and rats. To
determine to what extent this therapy affects protein metabolism in p
reterm infants, we studied 10 very low birth weight infants before a g
radually tapered dexamethasone regimen was started and at day 4 of tre
atment (dexamethasone dosage 0.35 +/- 0.09 mg kg(-1) day(-1)), and sev
en infants at day 19 of treatment (dexamethasone dosage, 0.10 +/- 0.01
mg kg(-1) day(-1)). Protein breakdown and turnover rates were increas
ed at day 4 of treatment but not any more at day 19 of treatment. Prot
ein synthesis rate was not significantly affected during dexamethasone
therapy. Weight gain was severely diminished during the first week of
treatment but not during the next 2 weeks. We conclude that nitrogen
balance during high dosages of dexamethasone is significantly lower be
cause of an increase in proteolysis and not because of a suppression o
f synthesis.