{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,30]],"date-time":"2026-05-30T07:01:48Z","timestamp":1780124508991,"version":"3.54.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Walter de Gruyter GmbH","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,15]],"date-time":"2025-09-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757894400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia","award":["TP2022128"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["TP2022128"]}]},{"name":"Public Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia","award":["P3-0124"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P3-0124"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,23]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"j_jpm-2025-0351_abs_001\">\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>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.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"j_jpm-2025-0351_abs_002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>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.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"j_jpm-2025-0351_abs_003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The increase in STV 6\u201312\u202fh after the first application was significant compared to baseline in both groups (p\u202f&lt;\u202f0.001). STV remained significantly elevated the first 24\u202fh 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\u202fh 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).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"j_jpm-2025-0351_abs_004\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Following the initial increase in STV after the first dose of betamethasone, STV declines and returns to levels that doesn\u2019t differ significantly from baseline after 24\u202fh in AGA and 48\u202fh in FGR fetuses. Longer-lasting response of FGR fetuses to betamethasone merits further investigation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1515\/jpm-2025-0351","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,18]],"date-time":"2025-09-18T16:46:38Z","timestamp":1758213998000},"page":"42-50","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Effect of antenatal betamethasone on fetal heart rate short-term variability in growth restricted fetuses"],"prefix":"10.1515","volume":"54","author":[{"given":"Tja\u0161a","family":"\u0160ikonja","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine , University of Ljubljana , Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zala","family":"Sr\u0161en","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine , University of Ljubljana , Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6545-9785","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ivan","family":"Verdenik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Perinatology , University Medical Centre Ljubljana , \u0160lajmerjeva 3, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3599-8002","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Renata Ko\u0161ir","family":"Poga\u010dnik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine , University of Ljubljana , Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia"},{"name":"Department of Perinatology , University Medical Centre Ljubljana , \u0160lajmerjeva 3, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2708-9175","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Miha","family":"Lu\u010dovnik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine , University of Ljubljana , Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia"},{"name":"Department of Perinatology , University Medical Centre Ljubljana , \u0160lajmerjeva 3, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabrijela Br\u017ean","family":"\u0160imenc","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Center Ljubljana, Regional unit Fu\u017eine , Preglov trg 14, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2597-0188","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tanja","family":"Premru-Sr\u0161en","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine , University of Ljubljana , Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia"},{"name":"Department of Perinatology , University Medical Centre Ljubljana , \u0160lajmerjeva 3, 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"374","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"#cr-split#-2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_001.1","unstructured":"Mayo Clinic. Premature birth [internet]. Rochester: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. [updated 2022 Jan 15"},{"key":"#cr-split#-2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_001.2","unstructured":"cited 2024 Aug 21]. Available from: https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/premature-birth\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20376730."},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Daskalakis, G, Pergialiotis, V, Domell\u00f6f, M, Ehrhardt, H, Di Renzo, GC, Ko\u00e7, E, et al.. European guidelines on perinatal care: corticosteroids for women at risk of preterm birth. J\u00a0Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2023;36:2160628. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14767058.2022.2160628.","DOI":"10.1080\/14767058.2022.2160628"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lees, CC, Stampalija, T, Baschat, A, da Silva Costa, F, Ferrazzi, E, Figueras, F, et al.. ISUOG practice guidelines: diagnosis and management of small-for-gestational-age fetus and fetal growth restriction. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2020;56:298\u2013312. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/uog.22134.","DOI":"10.1002\/uog.22134"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Melamed, N, Baschat, A, Yinon, Y, Athanasiadis, A, Mecacci, F, Figueras, F, et al.. FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) initiative on fetal growth: best practice advice for screening, diagnosis, and management of fetal growth restriction. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2021;152:3\u201357. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ijgo.13522.","DOI":"10.1002\/ijgo.13522"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Visser, GH, Bekedam, DJ, Ribbert, LS. Changes in antepartum heart rate patterns with progressive deterioration of the fetal condition. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1990;25:239\u201346. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0020-7101(90)90027-r.","DOI":"10.1016\/0020-7101(90)90027-R"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fratelli, N, Prefumo, F, Wolf, H, Hecher, K, Visser, GHA, Giussani, D, TRUFFLE Group authors, TRUFFLE Group collaborating authors, et al.. Effects of antenatal betamethasone on fetal Doppler indices and short term fetal heart rate variation in early growth restricted fetuses. Ultraschall Med 2021;42:56\u201364. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1055\/a-0972-1098.","DOI":"10.1055\/a-0972-1098"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kouskouti, C, Jonas, H, Levidou, G, Regner, K, Kainer, F. Alterations of the short-term variation of the fetal heart rate after antenatal maternal betamethasone administration: validation with two different computational algorithms. Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2020;224:26\u201330. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1055\/a-0873-2058.","DOI":"10.1055\/a-0873-2058"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Melamed, N, Baschat, A, Yinon, Y, Athanasiadis, A, Mecacci, F, Figueras, F, et al.. FIGO (International federation of gynecology and obstetrics) initiative on fetal growth: best practice advice for screening, diagnosis, and management of fetal growth restriction. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2021;152:3\u201357. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ijgo.13522.","DOI":"10.1002\/ijgo.13522"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Salomon, LJ, Alfirevic, Z, Bilardo, CM, Chalouhi, GE, Ghi, T, Kagan, KO, et al.. ISUOG practice guidelines: performance of first-trimester fetal\u00a0ultrasound scan. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2013;41:102\u201313. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/uog.12342.","DOI":"10.1002\/uog.12342"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gordijn, SJ, Beune, IM, Thilaganathan, B, Papageorghiou, A, Baschat, AA, Baker, PN, et al.. Consensus definition of fetal growth restriction: a Delphi procedure. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2016;48:333\u20139. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/uog.15884.","DOI":"10.1002\/uog.15884"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hadlock, FP, Harrist, RB, Sharman, RS, Deter, RL, Park, SK. Estimation of fetal weight with the use of head, body, and femur measurements--a prospective study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1985;151:333\u20137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0002-9378(85)90298-4.","DOI":"10.1016\/0002-9378(85)90298-4"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups Consensus Panel, Metzger, BE, Gabbe, SG, Persson, B, Buchanan, TA, Catalano, PA, Damm, P, et al.. International association of diabetes and pregnancy study groups recommendations on the diagnosis and classification of hyperglycemia inpregnancy. Diabetes Care 2010;33:676\u201382. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2337\/dc09-1848.","DOI":"10.2337\/dc09-1848"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brown, MA, Magee, LA, Kenny, LC, Karumanchi, SA, McCarthy, FP, Saito, S, International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP), et al.. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: ISSHP classification, diagnosis, and management recommendations for international practice. Hypertension 2018;72:24\u201343. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1161\/hypertensionaha.117.10803.","DOI":"10.1161\/HYPERTENSIONAHA.117.10803"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dawes, GS, Visser, GH, Goodman, JD, Redman, CW. Numerical analysis of the human fetal heart rate: the quality of ultrasound records. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1981;141:43\u201352. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0002-9378(81)90673-6.","DOI":"10.1016\/0002-9378(81)90673-6"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schneider, U, Fiedler, A, Schr\u00f6der, B, Jaekel, S, Stacke, A, Hoyer, D, et al.. The effect of antenatal steroid treatment on fetal autonomic heart rate regulation revealed by fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG). Early Hum Dev 2010;86:319\u201325. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.earlhumdev.2010.05.018.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.earlhumdev.2010.05.018"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Verdurmen, KM, Renckens, J, van Laar, JO, Oei, SG. The influence of corticosteroids on fetal heart rate variability: a systematic review of the literature. Obstet Gynecol Surv 2013;68:811\u201324. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/ogx.0000000000000007.","DOI":"10.1097\/OGX.0000000000000007"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Knaven, O, Ganzevoort, W, de Boer, M, Wolf, H. Fetal heart rate variation after corticosteroids for fetal maturation. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2017;216:38\u201345. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2017.06.042.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2017.06.042"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Weyrich, J, Setter, A, M\u00fcller, A, Schmidt, G, Brambs, CE, Ortiz, JU, et al.. Longitudinal progression of fetal short-term variation and average acceleration and deceleration capacity after antenatal maternal betamethasone application. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2017;212:85\u201390. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2017.03.025.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2017.03.025"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zizzo, AR, Hansen, J, Peteren, OB, M\u00f8lgaard, H, Uldbjerg, N, Kirkegaard, I. Growth-restricted human fetuses have preserved respiratory sinus arrhythmia but reduced heart rate variability estimates of vagal activity during quiescence. Phys Rep 2022;10:e15458. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.14814\/phy2.15224.","DOI":"10.14814\/phy2.15458"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ghi, T, Dall\u2019Asta, A, Saccone, G, Bellussi, F, Frusca, T, Martinelli, P, et al.. Reduced short- term variation following antenatal administration of betamethasone: is reduced fetal size a predisposing factor? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2017;216:74\u20138. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2017.07.010.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2017.07.010"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nijhuis, IJ, ten, HJ, Mulder, EJ, Nijhuis, JG, Narayan, H, Taylor, DJ, et al.. Fetal heart rate in relation to its variation in normal and growth retarded fetuses. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2000;89:27\u201333. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/s0301-2115(99)00162-1.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0301-2115(99)00162-1"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Xiong, F, Zhang, L. Role of the hypothalamic\u2013pituitary\u2013adrenal axis in developmental programming of health and disease. Front Neuroendocrinol 2013;34:27\u201346. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.yfrne.2012.11.002.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yfrne.2012.11.002"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Braun, T, Challis, JR, Newnham, JP, Sloboda, DM. Early-life glucocorticoid exposure: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, placental function, and long-term disease risk. Endocr Rev 2013;34:885\u2013916. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1210\/er.2013-1012.","DOI":"10.1210\/er.2013-1012"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). Electronic address: pubs@smfm.org, Martins, JG, Biggio, JR, Abuhamad, A. Society for maternal-fetal medicine consult series #52: diagnosis and management of fetal growth restriction: (replaces clinical guideline number 3, April 2012). Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020;223:B2\u201317. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ajog.2020.05.010.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajog.2020.05.010"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Frusca, T, Soregaroli, M, Valcamonico, A, Scalvi, L, Bonera, R, Bianchi, U. Effect of betamethasone on computerized cardiotocographic parameters in preterm growth- restricted fetuses with and without cerebral vasodilation. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2001;52:194\u20137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1159\/000052972.","DOI":"10.1159\/000052972"},{"key":"2026053006093731966_j_jpm-2025-0351_ref_026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Munoz, JL, Furtun, BY, Buskmiller, C, Sanz Cortes, M, Donepudi, RV, Belfort, MA, et al.. Cardiac structural and functional assessment of monochorionic twin pregnancies complicated by type II and type III selective fetal growth restriction. Fetal Diagn Ther 2025;5:1\u20137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1159\/000545880.","DOI":"10.1159\/000545880"}],"container-title":["Journal of Perinatal Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.degruyterbrill.com\/document\/doi\/10.1515\/jpm-2025-0351\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.degruyterbrill.com\/document\/doi\/10.1515\/jpm-2025-0351\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,30]],"date-time":"2026-05-30T06:10:59Z","timestamp":1780121459000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.degruyterbrill.com\/document\/doi\/10.1515\/jpm-2025-0351\/html"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,15]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,19]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,23]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1515\/jpm-2025-0351"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1515\/jpm-2025-0351","relation":{},"ISSN":["0300-5577","1619-3997"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0300-5577","type":"print"},{"value":"1619-3997","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,15]]}}}