Korean J Pediatr.  2004 May;47(5):521-526.

Prevention of Chronic Lung Disease with Early Dexamethasone Treatment in less than 32 Weeks Premature: Randomized Controlled Study

• Shim SY
• Cho SJ
• Park EA

Abstract

PURPOSE
The optimal timing and the consequences of dexamethasone therapy in chronic lung disease remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether early dexamethasone therapy would reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease and to determine the adverse effects and complications of prematurity associated with such therapy.
METHODS
Twenty neonates with hyaline membrane disease(dexamethasone n=10, placebo n=10) of less than 32 weeks of gestation at Ewha Womens University Mokdong Hospital were enrolled. Infants were randomized to receive either early dexamethasone or placebo within 12 hours after birth for three days at 10 day intervals until postconceptional age was 36 weeks.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the incidence of chronic lung disease, duration of the ventilator therapy, O2 therapy and the duration of admission in the NICU. Retinopathy of prematurity and periventricular leukomalacia were more common in the dexamethasone-treated group(P< 0.05). There were no different in other complications between two groups.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that dexamethasone treatment in extreme low birth weight premature infants may be discouraged. And the duration of treatment and total dosage of dexamethasone should be reevaluated.

Keyword

Early dexamethasone treatment; Premature; Chronic lung disease; Respiratory distress syndrome

MeSH Terms

Dexamethasone*
Female
Humans
Hyalin
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Leukomalacia, Periventricular
Lung Diseases*
Lung*
Membranes
Parturition
Pregnancy
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Ventilators, Mechanical
Dexamethasone