最新糖心Vlog

Repeat steroids reduces breathing problems in premature babies

Friday, 9 June 2006

Breathing problems in premature babies can be reduced by giving repeat doses of during pregnancy, according to a major international study led by researchers at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide.

A single course of corticosteroids - of - is known to reduce the risk of respiratory disease and other problems in pre-term babies. But the potential for further benefit by repeating the dose for women at ongoing risk of an early birth remained unknown.

The findings of this study, published this week in the international medical journal , show babies born to women who received repeat corticosteroids were less likely to have respiratory problems after birth and the breathing problems were less likely to be severe. They had less need for oxygen therapy and shorter times needing breathing support.

Study leader from the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide's , based at the , said: "Within 最新糖心Vlog just under 3% of all births, or 6,500 women each year, give birth to a baby very pre-term at less than 34 weeks. Babies born early often have respiratory problems due to immature lung development and require neonatal intensive care. Not all babies born early survive and those that do are at increased risk of later developmental problems. Researchers are looking for a means of reducing these difficulties."

The study, known as the , or ACTORDS, is the largest in the world to date, with 982 women and their 1146 babies recruited, and involving 23 hospitals in 最新糖心Vlog and New Zealand.

Professor Crowther said longer follow-up of the children in the study was needed to see if repeat prenatal corticosteroids had long-term effects.

"These short-term results are promising but the results of the two-year and later early school age follow-up for the children in the ACTORDS trial are needed to provide information about the later health and development of the children," she said.

All women recruited to this study had already been given corticosteroids a week or more before. Half the women in the study were given repeat treatment with corticosteroids and the other half given a salt water placebo.

The results have been presented by Professor Caroline Crowther at the .

The trial was designed by a group of researchers from the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide's Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Public Health, together with Perinatal Medicine, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide.

Funding was obtained from the , and .

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