Betamethasone, albuterol, and threatened premature delivery: benefits and risks. Study of 469 pregnancies.

This report details the outcome of pregnancy in 469 patients admitted before 34 weeks' gestation with premature labor with intact membranes (253 patients) or premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) but no labor (216 patients). Betamethasone significantly reduced the incidence of severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) both in patients with intact membranes and in those with PROM. PROM had a significant beneficial effect on the incidence of RDS in both groups of patients, those who had received betamethasone and those who had not. Fetal sex did not significantly influence the respiratory response to either PROM or betamethasone administration, except that betamethasone treated female fetuses showed a significantly better response to PROM than similarly treated males. Except in patients with PROM associated with a cervical suture, betamethasone administration did not increase the risk of perinatal or maternal infection.