Effect of antenatal glucocorticoid administered in a single dose on the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants.

Authors administered glucocorticoid in the cases of 116 pregnant women admitted with premature delivery beginning between 28--36 weeks of gestation to prevent respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Prednisolone-sodium succinate (Di-Adreson F. Organon) was given intramuscularly in a single dose of 100 mg. 314 infants born before introduction of the corticosteroid prevention on the 28--36 weeks of gestation whose mothers had not been given corticosteroid served as a control group. The frequency of RDS on the treated group was 8,62% while 101 of 314 infants on the control group showed RDS (32,16%). Number of infants of hyaline membrane disease was 3 and 40, respectively. A close correlation could be observed between the interval lasting from therapy to delivery and RDS incidence. In infants born within 24 hours after administration of Di-Adreson F. aquosum injection RDS developed in 58,33% while in those born within 24--48 hours RDS was diagnosed only on 3 cases (8,57%). No RDS was found in babies born after 2 days following the therapy. There were no significant differences between treated and control groups in Apgar scores and the mean weights of infants. These findings seem to suggest that 100 mg of prednisolonesodium succinate administered in a single dose significantly reduces the incidence of RDS in premature infants.