The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7352 p670
4 June 2005

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Antenatal betamethasone

Antenatal exposure to betamethasone does not worsen cardiovascular risk factors (although it may result in insulin resistance) in individuals whose mothers received the drug to prevent neonatal respiratory distress syndrome as part of a clinical trial. Researchers say that betamethasone should continue to be used to prevent this condition (Lancet 2005;365:1856).