There has been concerned about the steroid's effect on pulmonary growth. Thirty seven infants who were participated in a double-blind study of early D therapy for prevention of chronic lung disease (CLD) were evaluated for their pulmonary function at 2 yrs postconceptional age; 20 in placebo gr. and 17 in D gr. D (0.5 mg/kg/d on day 1-7; 0.25 mg/kg/d on day 8-14; 0.1 mg/kg/day on day 15-21; 0.05 mg/kg/d on day 22-28) or saline control (C) were given q.12.h. IV. The first dose of D was given at 4-12 hr after birth. There was no sign. difference between C and D grs. in B.W. (mean±SD 1.3±0.3 vs 1.3±0.2 kg), G.A. (29±3.0 vs 29±2.6 wks), Apgar score and severity of RDS at time of study. Blood gases, PH and acid base balance and lung compliance (CL), resistance (RL), tidal volume (VT), and Vmin were monitored (BICORE monitoring system, Irvine CA) at about 2 yrs postconcep. age. (27±4.8 m and 26.4±4.9 m in C vs D). All infants received room air during study. There was no sign. difference between the groups in incidence of URI, pneumonia and in blood gases, PH and lung function. We concluded that early use of D probably does not affect lung growth at 2 yrs of postconceptional age. Table

Table 1
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