Rescue Antenatal Steroids and Pulmonary Function Tests in Preterm Infants

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2009-11-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: Female

Summary

One course of steroids given to a mother before a premature delivery helps the lungs of the premature infant and decreases breathing problems. One course of antenatal steroids is the standard of care for threatened premature deliveries. It is unclear as to how long the benefit of one course of steroids last. The most benefit to the baby's lungs seem to occur if the steroids are given at least 24 hours before but within 7 days of a premature delivery. It is difficult to predict the timing of a preterm delivery so deliveries often do not occur within this time period. We hypothesize that the benefits of the steroids to the lungs wear off if the steroids are given more than 14 days before a preterm delivery, and that in these circumstances an extra course of steroids will help the premature baby's lungs and the premature baby will have less breathing problems as shown by lung function testing.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Oregon Health and Science University
• Collaborator: American Lung Association
• Treatments: Betamethasone; Betamethasone benzoate; Betamethasone sodium phosphate; Betamethasone Valerate; Betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Greater than 14 days after first course of antenatal steroids;

• Less than 34 weeks of gestation;

• Identified by primary physician as continued risk for preterm delivery;

• Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Major congenital anomalies

• Multiple gestation of triplets or greater

• Mother with insulin dependent diabetes