20.500.12556/DiRROS-28994 Effect of antenatal betamethasone on fetal heart rate short-term variability in growth restricted fetuses Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the magnitude and duration of the effect of antenatal betamethasone on fetal heart rate short-term variability (STV) in growth-restricted (FGR) fetuses in comparison with appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) fetuses. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the UMC Ljubljana between June 2023 and June 2024, including 21 FGR and 20 AGA fetuses. We measured STV before applying betamethasone and at regular intervals for seven days after the first application or until delivery. Confounding variables were fetal and maternal demographic and clinical characteristics. Analysis was done using linear regression, paired-sample t-tests and one-way and two-way analysis of variance. Results: The increase in STV 6-12 h after the first application was significant compared to baseline in both groups (p < 0.001). STV remained significantly elevated the first 24 h after the first application in the FGR group (p=0.018) but not in the AGA group. There was no significant difference in STV between baseline and 48 and 72 h after the first application in either group. When adjusted for gestational age, STV was significantly lower in the group of FGR compared to AGA fetuses at all times of cCTG recordings (p=0.031). Conclusions: Following the initial increase in STV after the first dose of betamethasone, STV declines and returns to levels that doesn't differ significantly from baseline after 24 h in AGA and 48 h in FGR fetuses. Longer-lasting response of FGR fetuses to betamethasone merits further investigation. antenatal betamethasone computerized cardiotocography fetal growth restriction fetus heart rate short-term variability prenatalni betametazon računalniška kardiotokografija zastoj v rasti ploda plod kratkoročna variabilnost srčnega utripa true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Neznano 2026-04-15 15:22:19 2026-04-15 15:22:19 2026-04-16 04:06:23 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 str. 42–50 iss. 1 Vol. 54 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 618.2/.7 0300-5577 10.1515/jpm-2025-0351 257024003 RAZ_Sikonja_Tjasa_2026.pdf RAZ_Sikonja_Tjasa_2026.pdf 1 E6796069B0C5C99C9ED1A13990C8A5E7 456577590d4c42f51ee82ff7f92c8dbf90d55453dfbd37ad136d019d45b8a973 38d30563-38ce-11f1-9cc3-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=43277 https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/jpm-2025-0351/html 1 238f31bf-38ce-11f1-9cc3-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=43276 Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana 0 0 0