Neonatologists are using much less dexamethasone.
Two historical cohorts (1993-1994 and 2001) of preterm infants ventilated for respiratory distress syndrome were compared. Dexamethasone administration fell from 22% to 6%. Chronic lung disease in survivors rose slightly from 13% to 17%, and mortality fell from 21% to 15% (other causes). The effect of restriction of dexamethasone use on chronic lung disease and mortality remains to be seen.
Shinwell
E S
ES
Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel. Soroka Medical Center, Beersheva, Israel. eric_w@clalit.org.il
Karplus
M
M
Bader
D
D
Dollberg
S
S
Gur
I
I
Weintraub
Z
Z
Arnon
S
S
Gottfreid
E
E
Zaritsky
A
A
Makhoul
I R
IR
Reich
D
D
Sirota
L
L
Berger
I
I
Kogan
A
A
Yurman
S
S
Goldberg
M
M
Kohelet
D
D
D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone