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This study ( 49) has shown that a prompt, and selective decrease in the fetal lung stores of vitamin A occurs following prenatal maternal dexamethasone administration. This decrease in the fetal lung vitamin A stores might be explained on the basis of increased utilization of lung vitamin A associated with enhanced growth and differentiation of the fetal lung induced by dexamethasone treatment The possibility that dexamethasone administration to human mothers with

preterrn labor might alter the lung vitamin A stores of their newborn infants at birth remains to be studied.