Antenatal corticosteroids improve fetal lung maturity and decrease the risk of which condition?

• A. Respiratory distress syndrome
• B. Neonatal hyperglycemia
• C. Necrotizing enterocolitis unrelated to lung maturity
• D. Post-term placental insufficiency.

Answer: (A)

Antenatal corticosteroids are given to speed up the baby’s lung development by boosting surfactant production. Surfactant coats the alveoli, lowering surface tension so the lungs expand more easily after birth. When more surfactant is available, the risk of respiratory distress syndrome—the classic problem in preterm infants due to surfactant deficiency—is markedly reduced. This is the most direct and well-established benefit of this treatment.

Other options don’t reflect this primary effect. Neonatal hyperglycemia isn’t the intended reduction target of antenatal steroids (steroids can transiently raise maternal glucose and don’t decrease neonatal hyperglycemia). Necrotizing enterocolitis isn’t specifically prevented by improving lung maturity, and while some overall neonatal outcomes may improve with better lung function, it isn’t the direct purpose. Post-term placental insufficiency relates to placental aging and blood flow, not fetal lung maturation.