Effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids in reducing respiratory disorders in late preterm infants: randomised clinical trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine the effectiveness of corticosteroids in reducing respiratory disorders in infants born at 34-36 weeks' gestation. Design Randomised triple blind clinical trial. Setting A large tertiary teaching hospital in northeast of Brazil. Participants Women at 34-36 weeks of pregnancy at risk of imminent premature delivery. Interventions Betamethasone 12 mg or placebo intramuscularly for two consecutive days. Main outcomes measures Primary outcome was the incidence of respiratory disorders (respiratory distress syndrome and transient tachypnoea of the newborn). Secondary outcomes included the need for ventilatory support, neonatal morbidity, and duration of stay in hospital.

Results

320 women were randomised, 163 of whom were assigned to the treatment group and

SUBMITTER: Porto AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3075234 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature