Effect of repeated doses of dexamethasone on the incidence and severity ofrespiratory distress syndrome in multifetal gestation between 24 and 34 weeks

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of antenatal cortico steroid therapy in multiple pregnancy on the incidence and severity of resp iratory distress syndrome (RDS). Twenty-two women with twin, 12 with triple t and 2 with quadruplet pregnancies and an emergency group of 20 mothers wi th twin pregnancies, who only had one course of dexamethasone, were compare d with controls. Corticosteroid therapy was associated with a reduction in moderate to severe RDS in all groups (twins p < 0.01, triplets and quadrupl ets p < 0.008) and the emergency group with dexamethasone therapy (p > 0.03 6) when compared to their individual controls. Dexamethasone reduced the du ration of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit of the emergency twin gr oup (p < 0.01). Neonatal birth weights were significantly less in all group s treated with repeated doses in comparison to the controls. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.