[Betamethasone in the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome. Results of 6 years' experience (author's transl)].

The purpose of this study was to find out whether the administration of corticosteroids to mothers with threatening premature labour reduced the risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature babies. Between XOU4 and 1979, the mothers of 62 children received 4 doses of a long-acting betamethasone preparation intramuscularly at 12-hour intervals followed, if required by 2 booster doses 15 days later. Salbutamol injections were sometimes given to delay labour. During the same period, the mothers of 81 other children (control group) with unavoidable premature delivery were left untreated. The incidence of RDS was similar in both groups. A study of the various factors likely to modify the incidence of RDS showed the same lack of effectiveness of the treatment. Neonatal mortality and morbidity did not appear to be altered.