EFFECT OF DEXAMETHASONE AND BETAMETHASONE ON FETAL HEART-RATE-VARIABILITY IN PRETERM LABOR - A RANDOMIZED STUDY

Objective To compare the effects of betamethasone and dexamethasone on fetal heart rate in appropriately grown fetuses. Methods Eighty-two p regnant women (97 fetuses) with preterm labour were randomly allocated to receive betamethasone (n = 42) or dexamethasone (n = 40) for fetal lung maturation in a nonblinded fashion. Computerised cardiotocogram (CTG) parameters were compared before, during and after treatment. Res ults A decrease in fetal heart rate variability was found with betamet hasone but no significant changes were found with dexamethasone. Fetal heart rate variability returned to pre-treatment values within a week after cessation of treatment with betamethasone. Neonatal outcome was similar in the two groups. Conclusions These findings might prove use ful in the management of compromised fetuses with decreased fetal hear t rate variability in which the CTG should be used together with other parameters to assess fetal wellbeing during corticosteroid treatment. Dexamethasone may be preferable as the drug of choice since it was as sociated with significantly less alteration in fetal heart rate variab ility compared with betamethasone.