RESUMO
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of antenatal corticosteroid therapy in multiple pregnancy on the incidence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Twenty-two women with twin, 12 with triplet and 2 with quadruplet pregnancies and an emergency group of 20 mothers with twin pregnancies, who only had one course of dexamethasone, were compared with controls. Corticosteroid therapy was associated with a reduction in moderate to severe RDS in all groups (twins p < 0.01, triplets and quadruplets p < 0.008) and the emergency group with dexamethasone therapy (p < 0.036) when compared to their individual controls. Dexamethasone reduced the duration of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit of the emergency twin group (p < 0.01). Neonatal birth weights were significantly less in all groups treated with repeated doses in comparison to the controls.
