title: Betamethasone dosing interval: 12 or 24 hours apart? A randomized, noninferiority open trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine whether the incidence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is similar with 12- vs 24-hour dosing interval of betamethasone.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, randomized, open, noninferiority trial. Mothers (n = 228) with a singleton or multiple pregnancies (fetuses = 260), between gestational age of 23-34 weeks, at risk for preterm delivery, received standard 2 doses of betamethasone either 12 or 24 hours apart in 2:1 ratio, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence of RDS was similar in the 2 cohorts (36.5% vs 37.3%; P = not significant). Women unable to receive the complete course of corticosteroids with the 24-hour interval can be reduced by half with the 12-hour interval. However, increased incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis was seen with 12-hour dosing (6.2% vs 0%; P = .03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 12-hour dosing interval is equivalent to the 24-hour dosing interval for prevention of RDS in neonates of mothers delivering prematurely. A larger multicenter study is needed to confirm our findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khandelwal
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Krystal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milcarek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone