McQueen 1978.

Methods	Double‐blind, placebo controlled Randomised Number of patients excluded after randomisation: not stated Number of losses to follow‐up: not stated
Participants	New Zealand 48 in total (sex breakdown and age not stated) Time from onset of stroke to enrolment: not stated Method of diagnosis: clinical diagnosis of cerebral thrombosis, lumbar puncture ?% 24 betamethasone 24 placebo
Interventions	Betamethasone versus placebo Interventions: betamethasone 12 mg i.m. stat, 4 mg i.m. 8 hourly for 1 day, 4 mg i.m. 8 hourly for 9 days, 4 mg i.m. 2 hourly for 2 days, 2 mg i.m. 2 hourly for 2 days: total dose: 345 mg betamethasone Placebo: vitamin C Duration: 14 days
Outcomes	Death at 12 weeks Causes of death Neurological scores (not available) at 14th to 15th day and week 12
Notes	Exclusions: subarachnoid haemorrhage; severe diabetes; pre‐existing steroid treatment; known peptic ulceration Follow‐up: 12 weeks
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not stated, but probably prepared by outsider to study
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	"each centre received packages of betamethasone or identical placebo in randomised order within blocks of six. As patients were entered into the trial they were given the medication designated by the next number in the treatment block"
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	"packages of betamethasone or identical placebo"
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Authors do not indicate if there were any patients excluded or lost to follow‐up prior to analysis