Neonatal outcomes with different betamethasone dosing regimens: A comparison

OBJECTIVE: To determine any differences in neonatal outcomes when dosing betamethasone every 12 hours vs. 24 hours for anticipated preterm delivery. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of births at < 36 weeks' gestation from January 1, 1996, to July 1, 2000. Maternal and neonatal charts were reviewed. The deliveries were separated into 3 groups: those not receiving antenatal corticosteroids, those who received betamethasone 12 hours apart and those who received 24-hour dosing. Demographic, obstetric and neonatal variables were compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were 909 deliveries analyzed. With the 2 betamethasone groups, a significant difference was found for more maternal antibiotic use (90.4% s. 83.6%, p = 0.03), venous cord blood gas pH (7.31 vs. 7.32, p = 0.04) and neonatal surfactant use (39.8% vs. 25.5%, p = 0.001) in the 12-hour group as compared to the 24-hour group. For all other outcomes there was no difference. CONCLUSION: Outcomes using a 12-hour dosing schedule of betamethasone were similar to those using a 24-hour regimen in this retrospective review. Twelve-hour dosing could be considered an alternative way to deliver antenatal corticosteroids.