[L-carnitine-betamethasone combination therapy versus betamethasone therapy alone in prevention of respiratory distress syndrome].
In this prospective randomised study the effects of antenatal treatment with a low dose betamethasone (2 mg/1 day)-L-carnitine (4 g/5 days) combination were compared with those of a high dose betamethasone, given alone (8 mg/2 days) on the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and mortality in preterm infants. One-hundred women entering the trial gave birth to 109 liveborn infants, 55 in the betamethasone group (A), 54 in the betamethasone-L-carnitine combination group (B). Eight of the 55 (14.5%) infants in group A developed RDS, four of the 54 (7.3%) in group B, which was significantly more (p < 0.05), although in group B the betamethasone dose was dramatically reduced. The mortality also was significantly lower after treatment with a betamethasone-L-carnitine combination compared to betamethasone alone (4 of 55 infants or 7.3% in group A versus 1 of 54 infants or 1.8% in group B, p < 0.05). The present results demonstrate that in combination with L-carnitine, the betamethasone dose is markedly reducible with a concomitant significant reduction of the incidence of RDS and mortality of premature newborns.
Kurz
C
C
Univ.-Frauenklinik, Wien.
Arbeiter
K
K
Obermair
A
A
Salzer
H
H
Salzer
H R
HR
Lohninger
A
A
D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000187:drug effects; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000517:prevention & control*
D001623:Betamethasone; D002331:Carnitine
L-Carnitin-Betamethason Kombinationstherapie versus alleiniger Betamethasontherapie als Prophylaxe des Atemnotsyndroms.