Cortikosteroids, a hormons of adrenal glands have a influence to almost all organic sistems because of their antiinflamatory and immunosupressive effects. They are used in perinatology to accelerate lungs maturation in expected premature labour. The most frequent used corticosteroids are bethamethason and dexamethason, with useful effects: acceleration of growth of fetal lungs by ripening pneumocites type II and supression of creating secundary septs; by protection of brain from intraventricular haemorrhage and periventricular leucomalation; decreasing rate of rethinopathy and enterocolitis and ductus artheriosus persistens. By this way the mortality rate ofpreterm newborns is decreased in 60% of cases. Expected harmful effects of antenatal using of corticosteroids are: high blood pressure of newborns in first 24 hours after delivery, the possible oedema of lungs, in simultaneous using of corticosteroids and bethamimetic treatment. It is not recommended to repeat treatment by corticosteroids in same pregnancy because of hormonal influence to fetal growth and neurological development, till clear benefit is not proved.

Abstract Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the most frequent causes of perinatal mortality in Bosnia and Herzegovina Methods: We analyzed in a retrospective study over a one year period (1999) the folloving cantons: Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla, Bihać, Goražde, Travnik, Zenica, which represent about one half of the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Results: Perinatal mortality in the analyzed regions within Bosnia and Herzegovina was 19.55 ‰, which is unacceptable in comparison with developed countries. Early neonatal mortality (9‰) was lower than late fetal mortality 10.55 ‰. The most frequent causes of death were: premature birth, 6.32% of all deliveries; EPH gestosis with a rate of 9% of all deliveries and fetal anomalies with 0.68% of all deliveries. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, prematurity is the cause of early neonatal mortality in 78.5% of cases, while fetal anomalies are the cause in the early new-born period in 10.70% of cases. Conclusion: The results of perinatal mortality analyses in Bosnia and Herzegovina confirm that perinatal mortality directly depends on the development of the health care system, economic sustainability, and living conditions. Our results show that Bosnia and Herzegovina fall into the category of developing country with a perinatal mortality rate of 19.55 ‰.