Controlled Trial of Dexamethasone in Respirator-Dependent Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

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Abstract
A randomized trial was conducted of dexamethasone therapy in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia who were dependent on respirators and were not progressing clinically despite conventional treatment. Babies were admitted to the study if they had a roentgenogram and clinical diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, were 2 to 6 weeks in age, weighed P < .05) when seven consecutive untied pairs showed weaning with dexamethasone and failure to wean in control infants. Pulmonary compliance improved by 64% in the treated group and 5% in the control group (P < .01). No significant intergroup differences were noted in mortality, length of hospital stay, sepsis, hypertension, hyperglycemia, or electrolyte abnormalities. Study design permits the conclusion that dexamethasone can produce substantial short-term improvement in lung function, often permitting rapid weaning from the respirator, but long-term efficacy and safety must be demonstrated by further investigations.

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