Reason for withdrawal from publication
May 2006 The 'Prophylactic corticosteroids for preterm birth' review has been withdrawn from Issue 3, 2006 of The Cochrane Library because it has been updated by a new review entitled 'Antenatal corticosteroids for accelerating fetal lung maturation for women at risk of preterm birth'.
The editorial group responsible for this previously published document have withdrawn it from publication.
Keywords: Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Glucocorticoids; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/prevention & control
Feedback
Nachum, September 2002
Summary
Is there enough data to indicate the efficacy of antenatal steroids in twins?
Reply
A response from the reviewer will be published as soon as it is available.
Contributors
Summary of comment received from Zohar Nachum, September 2002.
Preston, August 2002
Summary
It is unclear whether quasi randomised trials should be included. The abstract states they are included, types of studies says they are excluded, and a quasi randomised study has been included (Morales 1986).
Also some data appear to be missing from the meta‐analysis. Silver 1995 does not contribute any information to the outcome neonatal death, yet the data is reported in the abstract you reference (7/54 deaths on dexamethasone, 8/42 deaths on placebo).
Reply
A response from the reviewer will be published as soon as it is available.
Contributors
Summary of comments received from Carol Preston, August 2002.
Liabsuetrakul, September 2003
Summary
The results, and reviewers conclusions, are that administering corticosteroids (24 mg betamethasone, or 24 mg dexamethasone) to women who are expected to give birth at 28‐34 weeks gestation reduces neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, there is no clarification of how this should be prescribed. Standard regimens are for 48 hours treatment, using either 12 mg betamethasone IM every 24 hours, or 6 mg dexamethsone IM every 12 hours. But data in this review show the maximum benefit for corticosteroids is after 24 hours of treatment.
I have some questions about how to maximise the benefit in clinical practice:
1) For a woman in preterm labor who is being given tocolytic treatment to facilitate steroid administration, how long should tocolytics be continued, 24 hours or 48 hours?
2) Would the benefit of steroids be the same for a modified regimen over 24 hours, for example 8 mg dexamethasone IM every 8 hours for 3 doses, or 12 mg dexamethasone IM every 12 hours? Will this affect adrenal suppression and fetal growth like repeated doses?
3) Do we need a review comparing the benefits and adverse events between different regimens of prophylactic corticosteriods?
Reply
All evidence in relation to safety and efficacy relates to the doses and regimens described in the review. [Response from Patricia Crowley, October 2003]
Contributors
Summary of comments from Tippawan Liabsuetrakul, September 2003.
What's new
| Date | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 21 August 2008 | Amended | Converted to new review format. |
History
Protocol first published: Issue 1, 1996 Review first published: Issue 1, 1996
| Date | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 24 May 2006 | Amended | Review withdrawn from publication in The Cochrane Library 2006, Issue 3. |
Sources of support
Internal sources
No sources of support supplied
External sources
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
Withdrawn from publication for reasons stated in the review