Single versus multiple courses of antenatal betamethasone and neonatal outcome: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the beneficial and adverse neonatal effects of a single versus repeated courses of antenatal betamethasone.


METHODS
Tertiary care hospital


METHODS
Open labeled, randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Pregnant women (26-33 weeks) at risk of preterm delivery, who received one course of antenatal betamethasone and remained undelivered for 7 days. Those with uncertain gestation, major malformations and frank chorioamnionitis were excluded.


METHODS
Subjects were randomized to receive weekly antenatal betamethasone until 34 weeks or no further betamethasone.


METHODS
Primary: incidence of severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Secondary: incidence of non-severe RDS and other neonatal morbidity; birth weight, length and occipito-frontal circumference (OFC); and, development and growth at 6 mo corrected age.


RESULTS
38 subjects were allocated to each group. Severe RDS was similar in multiple and single course groups (7% vs. 3% respectively, P=0.34), as was incidence of other morbidity. Composite outcome of RDS and or death within 28 days tended to be less in multiple course group (P=0.07). Birth anthropometry was similar in the 2 groups. At 6 mo corrected age (n=44), weight and length were significantly lower in multiple course group (p=0.003 and P=0.007, respectively), whereas OFC was not different (P=0.1). There were no differences vis a vis neurodevelopmental outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
A single course of antenatal betamethasone was as efficacious as multiple courses, with respect to prevention of neonatal morbidity. Multiple antenatal betamethasone courses have long-term adverse effects on infant weight and length growth, but not on OFC and neurodevelopment.
Mazumder
Premasish
P
Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Dutta
Sourabh
S
Kaur
Jaswinder
J
Narang
Anil
A
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000886:Anthropometry; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001623:Betamethasone