Antenatal Betamethasone Compared to Dexamethasone - "BETACODE TRIAL"

University of Oklahoma (OU)

Status

Completed

Conditions

Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Neonatal Mortality

Treatments

Drug: Betamethasone(Celestone soluspan) and Dexamethasone

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00418353

20024615

Details and patient eligibility

About

Antenatal corticosteroids result in substantial decrease in neonatal morbidity and mortality by specifically reducing the risk of respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage and neonatal death among premature infants. No human randomized study has formally compared betamethasone and dexamethasone, the preferred corticosteroids for antenatal therapy, with regards to their effectiveness in reducing neonatal morbidities and mortality. Our objective was to compare betamethasone with dexamethasone in terms of effectiveness in reducing perinatal morbidities and mortality among preterm infants.

Full description

We conducted a double blind placebo-controlled randomized trial of antenatal betamethasone compared to dexamethasone among women at risk of preterm deliveries at Stony Brook University Hospital from August 1, 2002 through July 31, 2004. We excluded women with clinical chorioamnionitis, major fetal structural anomalies, fetal chromosomal abnormalities, prior antenatal steroid exposure, and use of betamethasone or dexamethasone for other medical indications, quadruplets and higher order multiple gestation and those who declined enrollment. Consenting women were randomly allocated to one of two groups by the Pharmacy using computer generated random numbers. The statistical analysis was performed in accordance of the intention-to-treat principle. Student t test, Chi square and Fisher exact test were used for analysis. A P value of < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Sex

Female

Ages

18 to 45 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria