A 42 day tapering course of dexamethasone reduced duration of assisted ventilation in very low birthweight infants, but increased risk of cerebral palsy at age 1 year

(1999) Pediatrics 104, 22; Kothadia JM, O'Shea TM, Roberts D . , et al. . Randomized placebo-controlled trial of a 42-day tapering course of dexamethasone to reduce the duration of ventilator dependency in very low birth weight infants. . Jul; . : . –27 . [OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] (1999) Pediatrics 104, 15. O'Shea TM, Kothadia JM, Klinepeter KL . , et al. . Randomized placebo-controlled trial of a 42-day tapering course of dexamethasone to reduce the duration of ventilator dependency in very low birth weight infants: outcome of study participants at 1-year adjusted age. . Jul; . : . –21 . [OpenUrl][3][Abstract/FREE Full Text][4] QUESTION: Among very low birthweight infants, does a 42 day course of dexamethasone reduce duration of assisted ventilation and affect developmental outcome at age 1 year? Randomised (allocation concealed*), unblinded, placebo controlled trial with follow up at age 1 year. 2 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in North Carolina, USA. 118 infants (53% boys, 61% white) who were 15–25 days old and had birth weight