A CONTROLLED TRIAL OF DEXAMETHASONE IN PRETERM INFANTS AT RISK OF CHRONIC LUNG-DISEASE

A case-control study was performed to evaluate the effect of dexametha sone on the incidence of chronic lung disease in preterm infants venti lated for respiratory distress syndrome. The study included of 30 pret erm infants randomly assigned, at 10 days of life, to a treatment grou p (15 dexamethasone at a starting dose of 0,5 mg/kg per day, progressi vely tapered) and to a control group (15 no steroids). The treated inf ants showed a significant increase in dynamic respiratory compliance a nd a significant reduction in expiratory resistances soon after starti ng of the study. Moreover dexamethasone therapy reduced significantly the incidence of chronic lung disease both at 28 days of life and at 3 6 weeks of postconceptional age. Dexamethasone-treated infants had a l ower weighs gain during treatment and a significantly higher incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, compared to controls. There were no d ifferences between groups in the incidence of hypertension, sepsis, NE C and hyperglycaemia. The authors conclude that dexamethasone therapy is useful in the reducing chronic lung disease in preterm infants vent ilated for RDS.