Meter-dosed, inhaled beclomethasone initiated at birth to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Abstract

In this small series, inhaled beclomethasone initiated at birth did not reduce the occurrence of BPD as defined by the continued requirement for supplemental oxygen at 36 wks corrected gestational age. However, inhaled beclomethasone did reduce the need for supplemental oxygen at 30 days of life and appeared to facilitate the transition from intubation/mechanical ventilation to less invasive nasal CPAP, as demonstrated by more frequent extubation before 2 wks of age and decreased total duration of mechanical ventilation in the beclomethasone-treated group. No adverse effects, including adrenal suppression, were noted in infants treated with inhaled beclomethasone. On the basis of the safety and apparent effectiveness of early inhaled beclomethasone in reducing the need for invasive mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen during the first month of life in premature infants, a larger clinical trial with greater power is warranted to ascertain if early inhaled beclomethasone can attenuate the occurrence of BPD.