Effect of the duration of dexamethasone treatment on the total phospholipid content of amniotic fluid
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Obstetric patients requiring premature termination of pregnancy with low levels of surfactant in the amniotic fluid were given dexamethasone for 2 or 7 days to assess the effect of the duration of treatment on the total phospholipid content of the amniotic fluid. A significant rise in lung surfactant occurred in both groups, but dexamethasone administered for 7 days was not more effective than 2 days' administration. It is suggested that it is not the duration of treatment, but the stage of pregnancy or the functional maturity of the fetus at the time of administration of dexamethasone that affects the outcome.
Obstetric patients requiring premature termination of pregnancy with low levels of surfactant in the amniotic fluid were given dexamethasone for 2 or 7 days to assess the effect of the duration of treatment on the total phospholipid content of the amniotic fluid. A significant rise in lung surfactant occurred in both groups, but dexamethasone administered for 7 days was not more effective than 2 days' administration. It is suggested that it is not the duration of treatment, but the stage of pregnancy or the functional maturity of the fetus at the time of administration of dexamethasone that affects the outcome.