Comparing the Impact of Prescribing One Dose or Two Doses of Injecting Betamethasone for Pregnant Women on Preterm Infants Outcomes

Abstract

Aims: The use of corticosteroids and abandoning the delivery are of preventive actions of newborns' respiratory distress syndrome. The aim of this clinical trial was to compare the effect of one versus two doses of Betamethasone on the outcomes of preterm infants. Materials & Methods: In this quasi-experimental clinical trial, 100 preterm labor pregnant women who referred to Sanandaj Be'sat Hospital in 2013 were selected by purposive sampling method and were divided into one dose (12mg Betamethasone) and two doses (12mg Betamethasone with the interval of 24 hours) groups. Information about delivery and gender, weight and Apgar scores of newborn were recorded in the checklist. Newborns were examined for infant respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, cerebral hemorrhage and neonatal death. Data were analyzed in SPSS 20 software by Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests. Findings: 14 newborns (28%) in one dose and 13 (24.5%) in two doses group had respiratory distress syndrome (p=0.689). 4 newborns (8%) in one dose and 7 (13.2%) in two doses group had enterocolitis and 8 newborns (16%) in one dose and 9 (17%) in two doses group needed respiratory support (p>0.05). Conclusion: Single-dose or two doses administration of Betamethasone in preterm mothers have no impact on newborn after birth.

Changes in Umbilical Artery Doppler Velocimetry After Betamethasone Administration in Pregnancies With Fetal Growth Retardation

“…In a double-blind clinical trial conducted by Mansouri et al, the administration of betamethasone reduced the 24-hour NICU stay (47). On the other hand, Saymari et al reported no significant effect of betamethasone concerning a decrease in NICU admission (15).…”

“…Previous research showed that betamethasone has extremely fewer side effects compared to dexamethasone (14). Further, evidence suggests that prenatal benefits, as well as maternal and neonatal complications are not associated with multiple courses of corticosteroids compared to a single course (15). The National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel concluded that the full benefits of taking corticosteroids appear in infants 24 hours after the treatment.…”