Gates, Simon and Brocklehurst, Peter. (2010) Decline in effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids with time to birth : real or artefact? BMJ, Vol.335 (No.7610). pp. 77-79. ISSN 0959-535X

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Abstract

The effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids to prevent neonatal lung disease in women at risk of preterm birth was established by systematic reviews. In addition, subgroup analyses suggested that treatment was most effective in babies born one to seven days after administration. This belief led to widespread use of repeated courses of corticosteroids in women who did not deliver within a week or two of initial treatment. However, the notion that effectiveness declines after seven days may be incorrect, as the analyses that it is based on are unreliable. Here, we discuss the methodological problems of these analyses and their relevance to current randomised controlled trials of repeated versus single courses.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Adrenocortical hormones, Premature infants -- Diseases, Fetus -- Effect of drugs on, Lungs -- Diseases, Pulmonary pharmacology
Journal or Publication Title:	BMJ
Publisher:	BMJ Group
ISSN:	0959-535X
Date:	14 July 2010
Volume:	Vol.335
Number:	No.7610
Page Range:	pp. 77-79
Identification Number:	10.1136/bmj.39225.677708.80
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Great Britain. Dept. of Health (DoH)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3328

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