Dose Reduction of Antenatal Betamethasone Given to Prevent the Neonatal Complications Associated With Very Preterm Birth (BETADOSE)

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Neonatal Complications

Treatments: Drug: 12mg betamethasone +placebo; Drug: betamethasone 24 mg

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02897076

P150944

Details and patient eligibility

About

Extensive animal studies have indicated that antenatal betamethasone exposure results in altered developmental trajectories of several fetal systems. Follow up of a randomized controlled trial has shown that antenatal betamethasone exposure might result in insulin resistance 30 years later. Furthermore, animal studies and randomized trials in Humans have clearly demonstrated that betamethasone-induced growth alterations were dose-related.

In ewes, a 50% reduced dose regimen resulted in maximal improvement in preterm lamb lung function, similar to those obtained after a full dose.

Our hypothesis is that antenatal betamethasone after a 50% dose reduction, justified by the potential long term effects of this drug, is not inferior to a full dose to promote fetal lung maturation in Humans.

Full description

The BETADOSE project consist in a randomized, multicenter, double blind placebo-controlled non inferiority trial comparing a standard dose regimen (24 mg) to a reduced dose regimen (12 mg) of betamethasone given to prevent the neonatal complications associated with very preterm birth.A betamethasone course consists in 2 injections of 12 mg betamethasone 24 hours apart for a total dose of 24 mg.

The first injection will be unmasked in both group. In both group, women will receive a first 12 mg injection of betamethasone according to local protocols.

Randomization will be performed after the first injection. Women will then receive either a placebo injection (reduced dose regimen, 12 mg only from the first injection) or a second 12 mg betamethasone injection (standard dose regimen, 12 mg from the first injection and 12 mg from the second injection=24 mg). This protocol allows women sent from level 1 and 2 to level 3 perinatal centers after having already received their first injection to participate.

In case of multiple antenatal betamethasone courses, women will receive their second course according to the same design as in their first course.

Enrollment: 3,250 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Singleton pregnancy
• Patient Having receipt the first injection of betamethasone and pregnancy term < 32 weeks of gestation
• Age > 18 years
• Patient affiliated to a social security regime

Exclusion criteria

• Chromosomal aberrations and major fetal malformations
• Cervical dilatation ≥ 4 cm and of cervical length ≥20mm.
• Patient who have already received a first course of betamethasone
• first intravenous injection of betamethasone

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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3,250 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

12mg betamethasone+12mg betamethasone

Active Comparator group

Description:

A betamethasone course consists in 2 intramuscular injections of 12 mg betamethasone 24 hours apart for a total dose of 24 mg. In the BETADOSE trial, the first injection will be unmasked in both groups. In both groups, women will received a first 12 mg injection of betamethasone according to local protocols. Randomization will be performed after the first injection. Women will then received either a blinded placebo injection (50% reduced dose regimen, 12 mg only from the first injection) or a second blinded 12 mg betamethasone injection (standard full dose regimen, 12 mg from the first injection and 12 mg from the second injection=24 mg).

Treatment:

Drug: betamethasone 24 mg

12 mg betamethasone+ placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

A betamethasone course consists in 2 intramuscular injections of 12 mg betamethasone 24 hours apart for a total dose of 24 mg. In the BETADOSE trial, the first injection will be unmasked in both groups. In both groups, women will received a first 12 mg injection of betamethasone according to local protocols. Randomization will be performed after the first injection. Women will then received either a blinded placebo injection (50% reduced dose regimen, 12 mg only from the first injection) or a second blinded 12 mg betamethasone injection (standard full dose regimen, 12 mg from the first injection and 12 mg from the second injection=24 mg).

Treatment:

Drug: 12mg betamethasone +placebo