Antenatal betamethasone and incidence of neonatal respiratory distress after elective caesarean section: pragmatic randomised trial

The references for our rapid response dated 9th December entitled
Elective Caesarean Section at Term are detailed below.

1. Stutchfield P, Whitaker R, Russell I. Antenatal betamethasone and
incidence of neonatal respiratory distress after elective caesarean
section: pragmatic randomised trial. BMJ 2005: 331: 662-
664.(electronic publication 22.8.05)

2. Fiori H. Why should antenatal steroids prevent transient
tachypnoea of the newborn? – rapid response letter BMJ posted 04.10.05.

3. Steer P J. Giving steroids before elective caesarean section.
BMJ 2005; 331: 645-646.

4. Crowley P, Roberts D, Dalziel S, Shaw BNJ. Antenatal
corticosteroids to accelerate fetal lung maturation for women at risk of
preterm birth. (Protocol) The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
2003, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD004454. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004454.

5. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Scientific
Advisory Committee. RCOG guidelines. No 7: Antenatal corticosteroids to
prevent respiratory distress syndrome. 2nd Ed.London: RCOG Press, 2004:
1-9

6. Dalziel SR, Liang A, Parag V, Rodgers A, Hardin JE. Blood
pressure at six years of age after prenatal exposure to betamethasone:
follow up results of a randomised controlled trial. Pediatrics 2004; 114.

7. Dalziel SR, Lim VK, Lambert A, McCarthy D, Parag V, Rodgers A,
Harding JE Antenatal exposure to betamethasone: psychological functioning
and health related quality of life 31 years after inclusion in randomised
controlled trial
BMJ, Sep 2005; 331: 665

Competing interests:
None declared