use of corticosteroids in neonatal asphyxia

ABSTRACT

60 infants with severe perinatal asphyxia, Apgar score 3 or less at one minute, were treated alternatively either with 4 doses of 0.6mg/kg of Dexamethasone at 1, 12, 24 and 36 hours of age or with no steroid. There were 30 infants in each group. Babies were similar in birth weight, gestational ages, sex, temperature, I and 5 minutes Apgar scores, maternal age, parity and caesarian sections. The patients were also comparable in number for intubation and positive chest x-ray at the time of birth and treatment with antibiotics. The mortality rate was not significantly different in either group but the rate of convulsions was increased in the study group [P > 0.l]. The convulsions started earlier and lasted significantly longer in the dexamethasone treated group [P > 0.05]