Low Dose Antenatal Corticosteroids for Late Preterm Delivery

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Respiratory Morbidity; Preterm Labor
• Interventions: Other: we will use reduced dose of acceptable corticosteroids treatment for preterm birth

• Registration Number: NCT05698966
• Lead Sponsor: Rambam Health Care Campus

Brief Summary

This is a study proposal for a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a reduced dose of antenatal betamethasone (a steroid medication) in preventing respiratory problems in late preterm infants (born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation). The study will be conducted in medical centers in Israel and will involve women who are at high risk for delivering a late preterm infant. The participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a full dose (12 mg) or a quarter dose (3 mg) of betamethasone, administered 24 hours apart. The main outcome measure of the study will be the incidence of respiratory problems or neonatal death within 72 hours of delivery in the two groups. The study is designed to determine if the reduced dose of betamethasone is non-inferior (i.e., not significantly worse) than the full dose in preventing respiratory problems in late preterm infants.

Detailed Description

Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) are a type of steroid medication that is administered to pregnant women at risk of preterm birth in order to reduce the risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and other complications in the newborn. ACS were first demonstrated to be effective in a controlled trial conducted in the 1970s by Liggins and Howie, who used a combination of betamethasone at a dose of 12 mg given in two doses 24 hours apart. Since then, numerous randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have shown that ACS can significantly reduce neonatal death, RDS, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and the need for respiratory support and neonatal intensive care unit admission in preterm infants. ACS are now recommended for use in virtually all pregnancies at risk of preterm delivery between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation. The use of ACS in late preterm pregnancies (between 34 and 37 weeks) has also been studied, with mixed results. The largest study to date, the ALPS trial, found that ACS reduced composite adverse outcomes and respiratory morbidity in late preterm infants, but did not significantly reduce the risk of RDS or mortality. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has recommended the use of ACS in late preterm pregnancies, but with caution due to the potential for adverse effects such as hypoglycemia. Long-term follow-up studies are needed to evaluate the potential long-term effects of ACS in late preterm infants. In this the participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a full dose (12 mg) or a quarter dose (3 mg) of betamethasone, administered 24 hours apart. The main outcome measure of the study will be the incidence of respiratory problems or neonatal death within 72 hours of delivery in the two groups. The study is designed to determine if the reduced dose of betamethasone is non-inferior (i.e., not significantly worse) than the full dose in preventing respiratory problems in late preterm infants.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-01-01
• Study First Submitted: 2022-12-31
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-01-16
• Study First Posted: 2023-01-26
• Status Verified: 2024-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-04-09
• Last Update Posted: 2024-04-10
• Primary Completion: 2027-01-01
• Study Completion: 2028-01-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1510

Inclusion Criteria

• • Singleton pregnancy at 34 weeks 0 days to 36 weeks 5 days of gestation at risk for / high probability of delivery in the late preterm period (34+0-36+5 weeks of gestation).

Criteria for determination of late preterm delivery risk:

1. Preterm uterine contractions with intact membranes, and at least 3 cm dilation or 75% cervical effacement

2. Spontaneous rupture of the membranes

3. Expected preterm delivery for any other indication via induction or cesarean between 24 hours to 7 days after the planned randomization, as determined by the obstetric provider.

Exclusion Criteria

They had already received a full course of betamethasone.

• Expected delivery in less than 12 hours, irrespective of cause including: 1)ruptured membranes in the presence of more than 6 contractions per hour or cervical dilation of 3 centimeters or more unless oxytocin was withheld for at least 12 hours (although other induction agents were allowed), 2) chorioamnionitis, 3) cervical dilation of 8 cm or more, and 4) evidence of non-reassuring fetal status requiring immediate delivery.
• Prior ACS treatment
• Current known or suspected infection ( viral, bacterial or other)
• Pre-gestational diabetes mellitus.
• Any infection that required antibiotics or hospitalization in the month prior to study allocation - Poor understanding of the inform consent language

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
betamethasone 12 mg	we will use reduced dose of acceptable corticosteroids treatment for preterm birth	3 mg betamethasone sodium phosphate and 3 mg betamethasone acetate per milliliter. The first dose of study drug medication will be administered at randomization as 2 ml injection; the next dose of 2 ml will be administered 24 hours later
betamethasone 3 mg	we will use reduced dose of acceptable corticosteroids treatment for preterm birth	3 mg betamethasone sodium phosphate and 3 mg betamethasone acetate per milliliter. The first dose of study drug medication will be administered at randomization as 0.5 ml injection; the next dose of 0.5 ml will be administered 24 hours later

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Respiratory morbidity	first 72 hours after birth	1. Use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or high-flow nasal cannula for ≥2 continuous hr in the first 72 hours; 2. Fraction of inspired oxygen of ≥0.30 for ≥4 continuous hr in the first 72 hours; 3. Mechanical ventilation in the firdt 72 hours yes/no; 4. extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) yes/no; 5. TTN: transient tachypnea of newborn yes/no

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
other neonatal morbidities other neonatal morbidities	first 30 days after birth	for all the parameters: yes or no Severe respiratory complications (a composite outcome of CPAP or high-flow nasal cannula for at least 12 continuous hours, supplemental oxygen with a fraction of inspired oxygen of at least 0.30 for at least at least 24 continuous hours, ECMO or mechanical ventilation, stillbirth, or neonatal death within 72 hours after delivery) Respiratory distress syndrome, Transient tachypnea of the newborn, Apnea, Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Surfactant administration, Need for resuscitation at birth , Feeding difficulty, Hypothermia, , Necrotizing enterocolitis, Intraventricular hemorrhage Papile grade 3 or 4, Neonatal sepsis, Pneumonia, Pulmonary air leak, Death before discharge; Newborns blood levels of glucose: mg/dl insulin and c-peptide : levels in serum

Trial Locations

Locations (16)

Emek Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Afula, Israel

Hilel Yafee Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Hadera, Israel

Carmel Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Haifa, Israel

Sheba Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Ramat Gan, Israel

Kaplan Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Ashkelon, Israel

Soroka Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Be'er Sheva, Israel

Rambam Health Care Cmpus; 🇮🇱 Haifa, Israel

Hadassah Ein Karem; 🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel

Meir medical center; 🇮🇱 Kfar Saba, Israel

Galilee Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Nahariya, Israel

Rabin Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Petach Tikva, Israel

Sourasky Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Tel Aviv, Israel

Ziv Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Zefat, Israel

Bnai Zion Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Haifa, Israel

Hadassah Har Hzofim; 🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel

Shaare Zedek Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel