Neonatal outcomes with different betamethasone dosing regimens: a comparison.
OBJECTIVE
To determine any differences in neonatal outcomes when dosing betamethasone every 12 hours vs. 24 hoursfor anticipated preterm delivery.


METHODS
A retrospective review of births at <36 weeks' gestation from January 1, 1996, to July 1, January 1, 1996, to July 1, 2000. Maternal and neonatal charts were reviewed. The deliveries were separated into 3 groups: those not receiving antenatal corticosteroids, those who received betamethasone 12 hours apart and those who received 24-hour dosing. Demographic, obstetric and neonatal variables were compared between the groups.


RESULTS
There were 909 deliveries analyzed. With the 2 betamethasone groups, a significant difference was found for more maternal antibiotic use (90.4% vs. 83.6%, p=0.03), venous cord blood gas pH (7.31 vs. 7.32, p=0.04) and neonatal surfactant use (39.8% vs. 25.5%, p = 0.001) in the 12-hour group as compared to the 24-hour group. For all other outcomes there was no difference.


CONCLUSIONS
Outcomes using a 12-hour dosing schedule of betamethasone were similar to those using a 24-hour regimen in this retrospective review. Twelvehour dosing could be considered an alternative way to deliver antenatal corticosteroids.
Haas
David M
DM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, San Diego, California, 34800, USA. haasdt@pol.net
McCullough
William
W
Olsen
Cara H
CH
Shiau
Daniel T
DT
Richard
John
J
Fry
Emory A
EA
McNamara
Michael F
MF
D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001724:Birth Weight; D020201:Brain Hemorrhage, Traumatic / Q000517:prevention & control; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D001623:Betamethasone