Do we use too much antenatal betamethasone?
OBJECTIVE: To review and rationalize the liberal use of antenatal betamethasone in the setting of threatened preterm birth. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was performed using the charts of all patients at Ste-Justine Hospital, Montreal QC, who received antenatal betamethasone between 01 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. Initial treatment consisted of 2 doses of 12 mg IM given 24 hours apart. Repeat doses of 12 mg weekly were administered at the discretion of the treating physician. Optimal antenatal betamethasone therapy was defined as delivery within 1 week of initial treatment, prior to 34 weeks. Aside from number and timing of doses, other factors analyzed included: gestational age at admission and delivery, diagnosis associated with threatened preterm birth (PTB), number of hospital admissions, and delay between re-admission and delivery. RESULTS: Of the 334 patients identified, 82 (25%) received optimal treatment. Of the remaining 252 patients, 204 (81%) received repeat doses. I
