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CompletedNCT00000563Updated Apr 27, 2012

Prevention of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome With Antenatal Steroid Administration

A Phase 3 interventional study of dexamethasone in Lung Diseases and Respiratory Distress Syndrome, sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Completed. Open to participants aged Up to 1 Year. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2012-04-27.

Sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) · Phase 3, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
Up to 1 Year
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To determine the effect of corticosteroids, administered 24 to 48 hours before parturition, on the incidence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and to determine whether the therapy has any adverse short- or long-term (up to 36 months) effects on the infant. Secondarily, to determine whether the therapy has any adverse short-term effects on the mother and to determine whether morbidity rates for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome as well as total and cause-specific infant mortality rates differ between mothers who received antenatal steroids and those who received conventional medical care.

Read the detailed description

BACKGROUND:

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the newborn. In the United States, approximately 10 percent of all infants are premature, and each year about 50,000 cases of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome occur.

Extensive studies in animal models on respiratory distress syndrome have demonstrated that antenatal administration of synthetic (dexamethasone) and natural (cortisol) corticosteroids accelerates lung maturation and significantly diminishes the occurrence of RDS. Although a variety of conditions in newborn infants have been treated with steroids over the past 20 years without adverse effects, investigations have been needed on the short-term effects of corticosteroids administered antenatally on neonate and mother and on the long-term effects on the infant.

The Planning Phase of this trial was completed in March 1977, with formulation of a common protocol and manual of operations. Patient screening and enrollment began in August 1977 and ended on March 1, 1980. Follow-up ended in August 1983 and data analysis was completed October 31, 1983.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Randomized, double-blind, fixed sample. Six hundred and ninety-six pregnant women were randomized to four doses of dexamethasone every 12 hours or to placebo. Endpoints were the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome and abnormality of motor-neuro-intellectual development in their infants.

02

Conditions studied

03

In context

Lung Diseases

3,303 studies on the registry are indexed under Lung Diseases; 355 are open to participants now.

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Lead sponsor

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is the lead sponsor of 1,117 studies on the registry; 71 are open to participants now.

Of its 57 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 49 (86%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
Up to 1 Year
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Male and female fetuses and infants; pregnant women with anticipated premature delivery and gestational age between 26 and 37 weeks.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Masking
Double

Interventions

  • Drugdexamethasone
06

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

07

References and documents

Publications

  • Effect of antenatal dexamethasone administration on the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1981 Oct 1;141(3):276-87. PubMed 7025638 ↗
  • Effects of antenatal dexamethasone administration in the infant: long-term follow-up. J Pediatr. 1984 Feb;104(2):259-67. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(84)81009-4. PubMed 6363659 ↗
  • Collaborative Group on Antenatal Steroid Therapy: Prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Effect of Antenatal Dexamethasone Administration. Hospital and Follow-up Studies. NIH Publication No. 85-2695, 1985.
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 27, 2012, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00000563
Lead sponsor
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
First posted
Oct 28, 1999
Start date
Jun 1976
Completion
Aug 1983
Last update
Apr 27, 2012

Study contacts

Charles Bauer
University of Miami
Richard Depp
Northwestern University
Sheldon Korones
University of Tennessee
Henrique Rigatto
University of Manitoba
Richard Zachman
University of Wisconsin, Madison
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2012. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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