Blood Pressure at 6 Years of Age After Prenatal Exposure to Betamethasone: Follow-up Results of a Randomized, Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prenatal exposure to betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) alters blood pressure in childhood. DESIGN: Prospective follow-up study of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: National Women's Hospital (Auckland, New Zealand). PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred twenty-three 6-year-old children of mothers who presented with unplanned premature labor and took part in a randomized, controlled trial of prenatal betamethasone therapy for the prevention of neonatal RDS. INTERVENTION: Mothers received 2 doses of betamethasone (12 mg) or placebo, administered through intramuscular injection, 24 hours apart. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 6 years of age. RESULTS: Children exposed prenatally to betamethasone (n = 121) did not differ in systolic or diastolic blood pressure from children exposed to placebo (n = 102) (mean difference: systolic: -1.6 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval: -4.1 to 0.8 mm Hg; diastolic: -0.3 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval: -2.5 to 1.8 mm Hg). CONCLUSION: Prenatal exposure to betamethasone for prevention of neonatal RDS does not alter blood pressure at 6 years of age.