Arch. Dis. Child

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER
[Advanced]

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this link to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in ADC Online
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Add article to my folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Armstrong, D L
Right arrow Articles by Harding, J E
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Armstrong, D L
Right arrow Articles by Harding, J E
Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition 2002;86:F102-F107
© 2002 Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition


ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Follow up of a randomised trial of two different courses of dexamethasone for preterm babies at risk of chronic lung disease

D L Armstrong, J Penrice, F H Bloomfield, D B Knight, J A Dezoete, J E Harding

Department of Paediatrics, National Women's Hospital, Claude Road, Auckland, New Zealand

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor Harding, Newborn Services, National Women's Hospital, Private Bag 92 189, Auckland, New Zealand;
j.harding{at}auckland.ac.nz

Objectives: To report 18 month outcome of a randomised trial of two courses of dexamethasone to prevent chronic lung disease of prematurity.

Study design: Babies of birth weight 1250 g or less ventilated at 7 days of age were randomised to a 42 day reducing course (long) or a 3 day pulsed (pulse) course of dexamethasone.

Growth, cardiovascular status, and respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 18 months.

Results: Seventy six babies were enrolled. Nine died and three were lost to follow up. Babies receiving the long course were weaned off oxygen more quickly than those receiving the pulse course (47% v 69% on oxygen at 28 days; p = 0.01), but there were no differences in 18 month outcomes. However, children averaged -1 SD for growth parameters, half had moderate or severe disability, and 35% and 19% respectively required oxygen at 36 weeks and discharge.

Conclusions: The dexamethasone course used did not influence long term outcome. However, entry criteria for this study selected a group of babies at high risk of poor long term outcome.


Keywords: preterm; steroids; respiratory disease; growth; development




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
PediatricsHome page
W. Onland, A. P. De Jaegere, M. Offringa, and A. H. van Kaam
Effects of Higher Versus Lower Dexamethasone Doses on Pulmonary and Neurodevelopmental Sequelae in Preterm Infants at Risk for Chronic Lung Disease: A Meta-analysis
Pediatrics, July 1, 2008; 122(1): 92 - 101.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
L. K. Washburn, P. A. Nixon, and T. M. O'Shea
Follow-up of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Postnatal Dexamethasone: Blood Pressure and Anthropometric Measurements at School Age
Pediatrics, October 1, 2006; 118(4): 1592 - 1599.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
T. F. Yeh, Y. J. Lin, H. C. Lin, C. C. Huang, W. S. Hsieh, C. H. Lin, and C. H. Tsai
Outcomes at School Age after Postnatal Dexamethasone Therapy for Lung Disease of Prematurity
N. Engl. J. Med., March 25, 2004; 350(13): 1304 - 1313.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER
ARCH DIS CHILD FETAL NEONATAL ED ED PRACTICE
Terms and conditions relating to subscriptions purchased online  ¦  Website terms and conditions  ¦  Privacy policy
Copyright © 2002 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health