All issues > Volume 47(5); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(5):521-526. Published online May 15, 2004.

Prevention of Chronic Lung Disease with Early Dexamethasone Treatment in less than 32 Weeks Premature : Randomized Controlled Study

So Yun SY Shim¹, Su Jin SJ Cho¹, Eun Ae EA Park¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Eun Ae EA Park ,Email: pea8639@ewha.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: The optimal timing and the consequences of dexamethasone therapy in chronic lung disease remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether early dexamethasone therapy would reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease and to determine the adverse effects and complications of prematurity associated with such therapy.
Methods
: Twenty neonates with hyaline membrane disease(dexamethasone n=10, placebo n=10) of less than 32 weeks of gestation at Ewha Womens University Mokdong Hospital were enrolled. Infants were randomized to receive either early dexamethasone or placebo within 12 hours after birth for three days at 10 day intervals until postconceptional age was 36 weeks.
Results
: There were no significant differences in the incidence of chronic lung disease, duration of the ventilator therapy, O2 therapy and the duration of admission in the NICU. Retinopathy of prematurity and periventricular leukomalacia were more common in the dexamethasone-treated group(P< 0.05). There were no different in other complications between two groups.
Conclusion
: This study suggests that dexamethasone treatment in extreme low birth weight premature infants may be discouraged. And the duration of treatment and total dosage of dexamethasone should be reevaluated.

Keywords :Early dexamethasone treatment, Premature, Chronic lung disease, Respiratory distress syndrome