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Background and Objective: Respiratory distress syndrome is the most important lung problem during the neonatal period. Although the benefits of antenatal corticosteroids in neonates with a gestational age of less than 34 weeks have been demonstrated, the benefit of this treatment in neonates with higher gestational age is dubious. This study investigated the effect of Betamethasone on respiratory distress syndrome among neonates with gestational age of 35-36 weeks. Materials and Methods: This double blind randomized controlled trial study was done on 200 pregnant women who were of high risk for preterm labor in 35-36 weeks of gestation in Sanandaj city-Iran during 2007. 200 pregnant women randomly divided into treatment and placebo groups were received intramuscularly Betamethasone (12 mg/kg/BW twice) and normal saline, respectively. Data including age of mother, sex, weight, respiratory distress syndrome and newborns admission in hospital were recorded for each subject. Data was analyzed by using two-tailed T, Mann-Whitney, chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Results: There were no difference among two groups about age of mother, sex and weight of newborns. There were 8 (8%) and 20 (20%) newborns with respiratory distress syndrome in case and controls, respectively (P<0.01). Admission in hospital was 16% in Betamethasone group vs 28% in normal saline group (P<0.04). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that exposure to antenatal Betamethasone with 12mg/kg/BW twice between 35 and 36 weeks of gestation is associated with a significant reduction in the rate of respiratory distress syndrome.

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Background and Objective: Respiratory failure is one of the most important respiratory problems in premature infants. Several studies have shown the efficacy of corticosteroids in gestational age less than 34 weeks. This study was done to determine the effect of prenatal betamethasone injection during 34 to 36 weeks of pregnancy on the prevention of newborn respiratory failure. Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 140 women with risk of preterm labor at 34 to 36 weeks of gestational age. Women in interventional group were received betamethasone 12 mg IM (2 doses, 12 hours apart). Women in control group were received the same volume of normal saline. Sex and birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, requiring hospitalization in neonatal intensive care units and require respiratory support were recorded for each newborn. Results: No significant difference was seen in sex and weight of newborns between two groups. The precent of newborns with respiratory distress syndrome in the intervention and control groups was 12.5% and 22%, respectively. This difference was not significant. No significant difference was seen in the need to respiratory support, hospitalized in the NICU between intervention and control groups. Conclusion: Adminestration of betamethasone in 36-34 weeks of pregnancy has no effect on the prevention of respiratory failure in preterm infants.