Intravenous dexamethasone for prevention of neonatal respiratory distress: A prospective controlled study.

A trial of intravenous dexamethasone for prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome was carried out prospectively. There were 112 treated and 188 control patients, matched for gestational age, birth weight, rupture of membranes, and antepartum diagnosis. No short-term deleterious effects on mother or infant were demonstrable. There was an increased incidence of cesarean section and puerperal infection in the treated patients. This was not related to the steroid therapy. There was no increased incidence of infection in the treated neonates. At 28 to 33 weeks' gestation, the treated newborn infants had one half the perinatal mortality and one fourth the incidence of severe respiratory distress syndrome seen in the controlls. Under 28 weeks, and from 34 to 36 weeks, no difference between treated and control groups was observed. Intravenous dexamethasone is effective in reducing perinatal mortality from respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants delivered between 28 to 33 weeks' gestation.