Follow-up of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of postnatal dexamethasone: blood pressure and anthropometric measurements at school age.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of a 42-day tapering course of dexamethasone on blood pressure and anthropometric measurements in school-age children who were born with very low birth weight.


METHODS
Sixty-eight children, who as neonates participated in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of a 42-day tapering course of dexamethasone (n = 38, dexamethasone; n = 30, placebo) to facilitate weaning from the ventilator, were seen at a median of 9 years of age. Participants underwent measurements of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, height, and weight. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare groups, and Spearman coefficients were used to examine correlations between variables.


RESULTS
Comparing dexamethasone- and placebo-treated children, we found no differences in systolic blood pressure, mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, height, weight, or body mass index. Twenty-nine percent of all subjects had systolic blood pressure and/or diastolic blood pressure > or = 90th percentile for age and gender. Thirty percent of all subjects had body mass index > or = 85th percentile for age and gender.


CONCLUSIONS
In a group of preterm very low birth-weight infants at high risk for chronic lung disease, we found no effects of dexamethasone on blood pressure or anthropometric measurements at 8 to 11 years of age. Of concern is that a high proportion in this sample had blood pressure > or = 90th percentile and/or body mass index > or = 85th percentile.
Washburn
Lisa K
LK
Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. liwashbu@wfubmc.edu
Nixon
Patricia A
PA
O'Shea
T Michael
TM
D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone