Diprolene
[Antiemetic efficacy of betamethasone versus betamethasone combined with metoclopramide in cisplatin-treated cancer patients]

[Article in Japanese]

Kagami Y, Nishio M, Narimatsu N, Tomita M, Sakurai T.

Dept. of Radiology, National Sapporo Hospital, Hokkaido Cancer Center.

This study was designed to compare the antiemetic effect of betamethasone alone with that of betamethasone combined with metoclopramide. Forty-seven patients on chemotherapeutic regimens including cisplatin were entered into this study. Betamethasone was given in 4 doses of 20 mg/body at 30 minutes before and at 2.5 and 8 hours after cisplatin. Metoclopramide was given in 4 doses of 1mg/kg on the same schedule. Within 24 hours after the administration of cisplatin, no vomiting was observed in 42.9% of the patients treated with betamethasone alone and in 76.9% with betamethasone and metoclopramide. Betamethasone combined with metoclopramide was superior to betamethasone alone for the antiemetic effect in cisplatin-treated patients.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2712578&dopt=Abstract betamethasone Diprolene AF



Diprolene
[Comparison of the effect of Lasolvan and betamethasone on lung maturity of fetal rabbits]

[Article in German]

Stepinska J, Zbislawska P, Skoczowska W, Cretti A.

Klinik fur Pathologie der Schwangerschaft und Geburt, Medizinischen Akademie Szczecin, Polen.

8 rabbits received Lasolvan i.v. on day 25, 26 and 27 of pregnancy. 8 rabbits received betamethasone i.m. on 26th and 27th day of pregnancy. The control group received 0.9% NaCl. On day 28 of pregnancy the caesarean section was carried out, the newborn rabbits killed after 45 minutes. In their lungs the lecithin contents was significantly higher in the Lasolvan group than in the betamethasone group and control group, but in the betamethasone group not significantly higher than in the control group. Betamethasone caused in the fetuses the lowering of the body weight, of the wet weight of lungs, of the dry weight lungs and the increase of the pulmonary fluid contents. Lasolvan had no such undiserable effect.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2728681&dopt=Abstract betamethasone Diprolene AF



Diprolene
[Influence of betamethasone on the vascular resistance in human placenta perfused in vitro]

[Article in Polish]

Kraczkowski J, Grudzien M, Zrubek H, Oleszczuk J, Samberger M, Bednarek W, Billewicz-Kraczkowska A.

The study was carried out on 48 human placentas perfused in vitro. Betamethasone was administered into the arterial system in the following single doses: 0.4 mg, 2 mg, 10 mg. It was found that betamethasone decreases the pressure of perfusion in different ways depending on the dose. A statistically significant decrease in perfusion pressure was observed in 30th minute of the experiment after administering 2 mg while a dose of 10 mg induced a significant perfusion pressure in 30th and 60th minute of the experiment. The relaxation of the blood vessels of the placenta under the influence of betamethasone was attributed to the action of dopamine on the dopaminergic receptors of the vessels and glucocorticoids modifying this action. The results of the experiments point to a positive action of betamethasone on the blood vessels of human placenta.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2806971&dopt=Abstract betamethasone Diprolene AF



Diprolene
Increased constriction of the ductus arteriosus with combined administration of indomethacin and betamethasone in fetal rats.

Momma K, Takao A.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, The Heart Institute of Japan, Tokyo Women's Medical College.

To find a better treatment for patient ductus arteriosus of preterm infants, we studied the combined effect of indomethacin and betamethasone on the fetal ductus in rats. We used a rapid whole-body freezing technique, and the ratio of the inner diameter of the ductus to the main pulmonary artery, which was 1.0 in controls, was used as an index of constriction. Indices of ductal constriction 4 h after administration of indomethacin (1 mg/kg) alone, betamethasone (1 mg/kg) alone or in combination in near-term rats were 0.56 +/- 0.05 (mean +/- SEM), 0.76 +/- 0.06, and 0.17 +/- 0.03, respectively. In preterm rats too, a marked increase in fetal ductus constriction was observed with the combined administration of these two drugs. Study of the dose effect of betamethasone revealed that maximal effects were obtained with 1 mg/kg of betamethasone combined with indomethacin in both preterm and near-term fetal rats. Increased constriction of the fetal ductus with combination treatment persisted from 1 to 8 h after administration. Administration of betamethasone 24 h before the rat was killed did not augment constriction of the fetal ductus by indomethacin administered 4 h before they were killed. Fetal ductus constriction by sulindac, another nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug with little inhibitory effect on renal function, also was augmented by combined use with betamethasone (1 mg/kg). In conclusion, ductal constriction was markedly increased by combined administration of indomethacin and betamethasone in near-term and preterm fetal rats.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2919121&dopt=Abstract betamethasone Diprolene AF



Diprolene
Reduction of mortality, morbidity, and respiratory distress syndrome in infants weighing less than 1,000 grams by treatment with betamethasone and ritodrine.

Papageorgiou AN, Doray JL, Ardila R, Kunos I.

McGill University, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital Perinatal Cent Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The efficacy of betamethasone has been questioned in infants of less than 28 week's gestation. From January 1983 to June 1986, 86 infants weighing 600 to 1,000 g were born at our center. Control of labor was attempted with ritodrine in all patients with less than or equal to 5 cm cervical dilation. If control were obtained, betamethasone was given 30 minutes later. Significant differences were found between the 33 infants born after 24 hours of betamethasone and those delivered before in terms of survival 90.1% v 56.6% (P = .001), respiratory distress syndrome 27.2% v 73.6% (P = .0001), and need for intermittent positive pressure ventilation 42.4% v 81.1% (P = .0005). The average hospital stay for beta-treated infants was 82 days v 99 days for nontreated infants. The average exposure to O2 after betamethasone was 12.7 days v 20.2 days, (P = .01), although need for intermittent positive pressure ventilation was similar (23 days) in the two groups. In infants who survived greater than 48 hours, the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus in the beta-group was 18.8% (6/32) v 44.4% (16/36) in the nontreated group (P = .04). Our data suggest that in infants weighing less than 1,000 g, control of labor with ritodrine for a minimum of 24 hours and administration of betamethasone can reduce significantly not only the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome but also mortality and morbidity.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2927987&dopt=Abstract betamethasone Diprolene AF



Diprolene
The effect of antenatal betamethasone on cord blood concentrations of retinol-binding protein, transthyretin, transferrin, retinol, and vitamin E.

Georgieff MK, Chockalingam UM, Sasanow SR, Gunter EW, Murphy E, Ophoven JJ.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Hospital, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis.

We assessed the effect of short-term (less than or equal to 1 week) and prolonged (greater than 1 week) exposure to antenatal betamethasone on umbilical cord serum concentrations of retinol-binding protein (serum t 1/2 = 12 h), transthyretin (t 1/2 = 2 days), transferrin (t 1/2 = 8 days), retinol (vitamin A), and vitamin E in appropriate-for-gestational-age preterm newborn infants of less than 36 weeks' gestation. A group of 30 infants whose mothers received a single course of betamethasone less than or equal to 1 week prior to delivery had significantly elevated mean retinol-binding protein and transthyretin but not transferrin concentrations when compared with a group of 30 gestational age- and birth weight-matched infants with no exposure to antenatal betamethasone. A group of eight infants whose mothers received multiple (more than two) weekly courses of betamethasone prior to delivery had significantly elevated mean serum concentrations of all three proteins when compared with eight gestational age- and weight-matched control infants with no betamethasone exposure. Serum retinol and vitamin E concentrations were measured in a group of 21 infants exposed to short-term prenatal betamethasone and were significantly greater than in a group of 21 control infants without steroid exposure. We conclude that antenatal steroids increase the umbilical cord serum concentrations of retinol-binding protein, transthyretin, transferrin, retinol, and vitamin E. The effect on the various serum proteins is dependent on the duration of exposure to steroids.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3183876&dopt=Abstract betamethasone Diprolene AF