title: Two-year follow-up of a randomised trial with repeated antenatal betamethasone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Weekly repeated antenatal corticosteroid treatment improves respiratory outcome but decreases fetal growth and may impair neurodevelopmental outcome. We have previously reported that a single repeat betamethasone (BM) dose neither decreased fetal growth nor improved the outcome of preterm infants during the first hospitalisation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study prospectively whether a single repeat dose of BM influences neurodevelopment and growth within 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with imminent delivery before 34.0 gestational weeks were eligible if they remained undelivered for >7 days after a single course of antenatal BM. After stratification, a single repeat dose of BM (12 mg) or placebo was given. The children underwent neurological and psychometric examinations and a speech evaluation at a corrected age of 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, blinded evaluation following the randomised multicentre trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  259 (82%) surviving infants completed the 2-year follow-up, 120 in the BM group and 139 in the placebo group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of survival without severe neurodevelopmental impairment was similar in both groups (BM 98%, placebo 99%). The risk of cerebral palsy (BM 2%, placebo 1%), growth or re-hospitalisation rates (BM 60%, placebo 50%) did not differ between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single repeat dose of antenatal BM tended not to influence physical growth or neurodevelopment at 2 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, FIN-90014 University of Oulu, Finland. outi.peltoniemi@mail.suomi.net
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Peltoniemi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yliherva
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puosi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tammela
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000188:drug therapy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone