Risk factors for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in severe preeclampsia

Abstract

Objectives: to identify predictive factors of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in severe preeclampsia. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted based on the secondary analysis of a clinical trial about the use of corticosteroids to prevent RDS in severe preeclampsia. Newborn. infants with (n=66) and without RDS (n=134) were compared. Results: only fetal distress and very low birth weight were associated with increased risk of RDS, white corticosteroid therapy was significantly protective after multiple regression analysis. Conclusions: when deciding whether to interrup t a pregnancy in cases ofserious preeclampsia the risk of excessive prematurity has to be weighed up against the patient's exposure to fetal distress, and corticosteroid therapy should always be recommended.