The effects of Betamethasone on white blood cells during pregnancy with PPROM

Objective: To determine the effects of Betamethasone injections on maternal white blood cell counts. Study Design: Thirteen pregnant women without fever or clinical infection and with premature rupture of the membranes at less than 34 weeks gestation were studied. No subject had labor during the week of study. Daily complete blood counts were done before and on days one and two after two 12 mg intramuscular injections of Betamethasone given 24 hours apart. Results: The steroid injections produced a significant increase in total white counts from 9.8 +/- 5.0 to 14.2 +/- 0.7 x 10(3) cells/cc. There was a significant increase in polymorphonucleocytes and a decrease in lymphocytes and monocytes. Conclusion: The use of Betamethasone injections to mature fetal lungs results in a leukocytosis, but total white cell counts remain less than 20 x 10(3) cells/cc.