Salivary cortisol is not associated with dexamethasone response in preterm infants with evolving bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2026

Identifier

DOI: 10.1038/s41372-024-02177-x

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Short-term treatment efficacy of systemic dexamethasone (DEX) in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is highly variable. Our objective was to assess if salivary cortisol may serve as a reliable biomarker of steroid response.

STUDY DESIGN: Multi-site prospective observational cohort study. Salivary cortisol was measured before and after DEX treatment. Respiratory Severity Score (RSS) quantified clinical response.

RESULTS: Fifty-four infants with median (inter-quartile range) gestational age of 25.1 (24.1,26.5) weeks initiated DEX at 30 (23,48) days' postnatal age. Median baseline and post-treatment cortisol levels were 0.3 (0.2,0.6) μg/dl; 8.3 (5.5,16.5) nmol/L and 0.2 (0.1,0.3) μg/dl; 5.5 (2.8,8.3) nmol/L, respectively. RSS values decreased by a median of 3.1(1.6,5.0) Change in RSS did not correlate with baseline cortisol or change in cortisol levels.

CONCLUSION: In this first study to assess salivary cortisol as a biomarker for DEX response in BPD, salivary cortisol did not predict dexamethasone response.

Journal Title

Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association

Volume

46

Issue

2

First Page

211

Last Page

215

MeSH Keywords

Humans; Dexamethasone; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; Hydrocortisone; Saliva; Infant, Newborn; Male; Prospective Studies; Female; Infant, Premature; Glucocorticoids; Biomarkers; Gestational Age; Treatment Outcome; Severity of Illness Index

PubMed ID

39567652

Keywords

Dexamethasone; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; Hydrocortisone; Saliva; Prospective Studies; Glucocorticoids; Biomarkers; Gestational Age; Treatment Outcome; Severity of Illness Index

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