Serum Estriol Level During Treatment with Betamethasone in the Last Trimester of Human Pregnancy

Abstract

A comparison was made between betamethasone disodiumphosphate/betamethasone acetate (Celeston^R) and betamethasone disodiumphosphate (Celestona^R) in antena-tally prophylactic treatment of respiratory distress syndrome syndrome (RDS).

Altogether 65 pregnant women in the last trimester of pregnancy were treated with the first-mentioned drug and 62 with the second. The RDS-preventive effect was the same in the two groups. Celeston^R has a much longer depressive effect on the level of plasma estriol than has Celestona^R. Use of this drug, betamethasone disodiumphosphate, is therefore recommended in the prophylaxis against RDS.