ANTENATAL CORTICOSTEROID TREATMENT AND NEONATAL OUTCOMES FOR INFANTS 501 TO 1500 GM IN THE VERMONT-OXFORD TRIALS NETWORK

Premature infants whose mothers received corticosteroid treatment befo re delivery are less likely to develop respiratory distress syndrome a nd its associated complications.(1) Despite a substantial body of clin ical evidence accumulated over more than 20 years that documents these benefits, there is still no consensus among clinicians regarding the safety and efficacy of antenatal corticosteroid treatment. In response , the National Institutes of Health convened a Consensus Development C onference on the Effect of Corticosteroids for Fetal Maturation on Per inatal Outcomes. This article is based on an analysis of the Vermont-O xford Trials Network Database and was prepared at the request of the C onsensus Conference Panel.(2) It describes the effects of antenatal co rticosteroids on morbidity and mortality for infants whose birth weigh ts ranged from 501 to 1500 gm born during 1991 and 1992. The plan for analysis and format for presentation were developed jointly with repre sentatives of three other organizations with neonatal databases (Burro ughs Wellcome Company, National Institute of Child Health and Developm ent Neonatal Research Network, and Ross Laboratories).(3) Each of thes e organizations has also presented their individual results.(4-6)