Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that maternal treatments with betamethasone acetate induce fetal lung maturation comparably to the betamethasone phosphate + betamethasone acetate used clinically. STUDY DESIGN: Ewes with singleton pregnancies were treated with single doses of 0.25-mg/kg or 0.5-mg/kg betamethasone acetate, 4 doses of 0.25-mg/kg betamethasone phosphate, a single dose of 0.5-mg/kg betamethasone acetate + 0.25-mg/kg betamethasone phosphate, 2 doses of 0.25-mg/kg betamethasone acetate + 0.25-mg betamethasone phosphate or vehicle beginning 48 hours before preterm delivery. Fetal lung maturation was evaluated. RESULTS: All treatments induced lung maturation relative to vehicle controls. The relatively insoluble betamethasone acetate resulted in low maternal blood betamethasone and no detectable fetal blood betamethasone in 2 of 3 fetuses, but it induced fetal lung maturation comparable to the 2-dose betamethasone acetate + betamethasone phosphate or 4 doses of betamethasone phosphate. CONCLUSION: A single maternal dose of betamethasone acetate effectively induces fetal lung maturation in sheep with minimal fetal exposure.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 611.e1 - 611.e7 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
Volume | 201 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |