Published online September 1, 2004
PEDIATRICS Vol. 114 No. 3 September 2004, pp. e373-e377 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-0196)
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ELECTRONIC ARTICLE

Blood Pressure at 6 Years of Age After Prenatal Exposure to Betamethasone: Follow-up Results of a Randomized, Controlled Trial

Stuart R. Dalziel, MBChB*,{ddagger}, Allen Liang, FRACP§, Varsha Parag, MSc*, Anthony Rodgers, PhD* and Jane E. Harding, FRACP, DPhil{ddagger}

* Clinical Trials Research Unit
{ddagger} Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
§ Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand

Objective. To determine whether prenatal exposure to betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) alters blood pressure in childhood.

Design. Prospective follow-up study of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting. National Women's Hospital (Auckland, New Zealand).

Participants. Two hundred twenty-three 6-year-old children of mothers who presented with unplanned premature labor and took part in a randomized, controlled trial of prenatal betamethasone therapy for the prevention of neonatal RDS.

Intervention. Mothers received 2 doses of betamethasone (12 mg) or placebo, administered through intramuscular injection, 24 hours apart.

Main Outcome Measures. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 6 years of age.

Results. Children exposed prenatally to betamethasone (n = 121) did not differ in systolic or diastolic blood pressure from children exposed to placebo (n = 102) (mean difference: systolic: –1.6 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval: –4.1 to 0.8 mm Hg; diastolic: –0.3 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval: –2.5 to 1.8 mm Hg).

Conclusion. Prenatal exposure to betamethasone for prevention of neonatal RDS does not alter blood pressure at 6 years of age.

Key Words: prenatal glucocorticoids • respiratory distress syndrome • blood pressure • long-term follow-up

Abbreviations: RDS, respiratory distress syndrome • CI, confidence interval • RCT, randomized, controlled trial

Accepted Apr 26, 2004.