Early Dexamethasone Therapy in Preterm Infants: A Follow-up Study

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.101.5.e7
• Publication Date: 2004-08-13T23:44:32Z
• Authors: Tsu F. Yeh; Yuh J. Lin; Chao C. Huang; Yung J. Chen; Chyi H. Lin; Hong C. Lin; Wu S. Hsieh; Yu J. Lien
• Keywords: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Objectives. To study the outcome at 2-year corrected age of infants who participated in a double-blind controlled trial early (<12 hours) dexamethasone therapy for prevention chronic lung disease (CLD). Methods and Materials. A total 133 children (70 control group, 63 dexamethasone-treated group) survived initial period lived to 2 years were studied. All had birth weights 500 1999 g severe respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation within 6 hours after birth. For treatment was started mean 8.1 given 0.25 mg/kg every 12 1 week then tapered off gradually over 3-week period. The following variables evaluated: interim medical history, socioeconomic background, physical growth, neurologic examinations, mental psychomotor development index score (MDI PDI), pulmonary function, electroencephalogram, auditory visual evoked potential. Results. Infants group tended have higher incidence upper infection rehospitalization than did because problems. Although there no difference between groups somatic growth girls, boys significantly lower body weight shorter height (10.7 ± 3.0 vs 11.9 2.0 kg; 84.9 5.7 87.5 4.8 cm). neuromotor dysfunction (25/63 12/70) group. dexa-methasone-treated also PDI (79 26) (87 23), but not statistically significant. Both comparable MDI, vision impairment, Significant handicap, defined as defect and/or intellectual ≤ 69), seen 22 (31.4%) 26 (41.2%) Conclusions. postnatal 4 weeks reduces CLD, this therapeutic regimen cannot be recommended present its adverse effects on function male infants, detected age. longer follow-up is needed. If used should modified. proper route administration, critical time initiate therapy, dosage duration remain further.