title: Prenatal corticosteroid therapy to prevent respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: Recently, an editor observed that the number of clinical trials has multiplied and that several trials of the same treatment may be published serially over a span of 10 years or more. He was not discussing antenatal CS therapy, was he? He added that meta-analysis should decide whether characteristics of patients, their therapies, and outcomes in each trial are comparable. Were they? Neither controlled trials in large numbers nor meta-analysis of these trials have swayed obstetricians toward routine use of antenatal CS as a single intervention. Perhaps the data from studies of combined hormonal therapy or of prenatal-postnatal therapy, or of a combination of both of these approaches will increase the use of antenatal CS. Ironically, maybe a retrospective study will provide the stimulus. Time will tell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Yeomans
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones