Prevention of the respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants by antepartum glucocorticoid therapy.

A trial of antepartum dexamethasone therapy was carried out in 55 mothers in whom premature delivery threatned between 28 to 36 weeks gestation in the hope of reducing the incidence of respiratory distress syndromes (RDS). The control group was made up of 62 mothers who delivered prematurely in the same gestational age without any treatment. In the treated group isoxsuprine was used to delay delivery when necessary. The respiratory dif infants (8.3 per cent) than in the controls (35.2 per cent; p less than 0.001). The difference was more marked in babies of under 32 weeks gestation. Considering only cases with intact membranes the incidence of RDS was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower in the treated group. Early neonatal mortality was 6.6 per cent in the treated group and 38 per cent (p less than 0.0001) in the controls. In 12 cases the L/S ratio was measured during dexamethasone administration and in the majority of these the L/S ratio rose sharply to mature values following treatment. This rise was observed as soon as 48 hours after beginning of dexamethasone. Antepartum isoxsuprine in the treated group had no apparent effect on the incidence of RDS. No adverse effects of steroid therapy were observed. This trial confirms the studies of others that antepartum glucocorticoid can significantly reduce the incidence of RDS in premature infants.