The effect of antenatal corticosteroid therapy on pregnancies complicated by premature rupture of membranes

• Published in: Clinical and experimental obstetrics & gynecology 2001, Vol.28 (3), p.183-186
• Main Authors: Qublan, H S, Malkawi, H Y, Hiasat, M S, Hindawi, I M, Al-Taani, M I, Abu-Khait, S A, Al-Maaitah, J F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Apgar Score; Cerebral Hemorrhage - prevention & control; Dexamethasone - therapeutic use; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing - prevention & control; Female; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture - complications; Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Length of Stay; Pregnancy; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0390-6663

This study was carried out to examine the effect of antenatal corticosteroid therapy on pregnancies complicated by premature rupture of membranes (PROMs). For this purpose, 139 patients with a singleton pregnancy (27-34 weeks of gestation) complicated by PROMs were evaluated prospectively during the period January 1997 to February 1999 at two Jordanian military hospitals (Prince Rhashed and Prince Zaid). Patients were allocated into two groups; Group 1 included 72 patients treated with dexamethsone (24 mg divided into 4 doses 12 hours apart), and Group 2 which included 67 patients whoreceived no treatment (control group). All women were examined clinically and the diagnosis of PROMs was demonstrated using vaginal speculum, nitrazine paper examination and ultrasonography. All neonates were evaluated clinically, radiologically, and by laboratory investigations. Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to assess the significance of differences between the two study groups. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), and days of hospital stay were significantly reduced in premature infants of the corticosteroid treated women compared with the controls (p