Antepartum vitamin K and phenobarbital for preventing intraventricular hemorrhage in the premature newborn: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether antepartum phenobarbital and vitamin K reduce the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage in premature newborns.


METHODS
Patients at imminent risk for spontaneous or indicated premature delivery between 24-34 weeks' gestation were randomized to receive either placebo or vitamin K and phenobarbital. All patients received betamethasone and antibiotics and were managed uniformly by a single perinatal group in one hospital. All newborns were managed uniformly in the same facility by a single neonatal group.


RESULTS
There was a nonsignificant reduction in all grades of intraventricular hemorrhage in the treatment group when compared to the placebo group (48.2 versus 38.3%; P > .05). Frequencies were reduced for severe intraventricular hemorrhage (grades 3 and 4) (6.0 versus 2.5%; P > .05) and mild intraventricular hemorrhage (grades 1 and 2) (42.2 versus 35.8%; P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Antepartum phenobarbital and vitamin K effected a nonsignificant reduction in both mild and severe intraventricular hemorrhage. The incidence of severe intraventricular hemorrhage in our control group was significantly less than that observed in previous studies.
Thorp
J A
JA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Missouri.
Parriott
J
J
Ferrette-Smith
D
D
Meyer
B A
BA
Cohen
G R
GR
Johnson
J
J
D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014812:Vitamin K; D010634:Phenobarbital