We followed 133 (70 control, C; 63 D) of 164 surviving infants who were enrolled in a double blind control trial of early D therapy for preventing BPD. All infants had severe RDS and required IMV shortly after birth. Saline or D (0.25 mg/kg/dose, 1-7 d; 0.12 mg/kg/dose, 8-14 d; 0.05 mg/kg/dose, 15-21 d; 0.02 mg/kg/dose, 22-28 d) was given i.v. bid. Gr. C and D was comparable in B.W. (mean±SD 1.36±0.35 vs 1.42±0.31 kg), G.A.(29.4±2.4 vs 30.3±2.2 wks), Apgar score, initial blood gases, pH, IMV set-up, and family social background. The corrected age at time examined was similar. (C: 25.4±5.4, D: 24.3±4.4 m). *p<0.05Table

Table 1
Full size table

More infants in Gr.D than in Gr.C. had sign. delay in PDI (≤69) and had abnormal neuromotor function (25 vs 12, p<0.05; mild: 7 vs 6, mod: 13 vs 4; severe 5 vs 2). Both grs were comparable in physical growth, EEG, BAEP and VEP. The number of infant with sign. handicap (mod. to severe neuromotor handicap and/or PDI or MDI ≤69) was similar (C 24; D 30). Impaired vision was seen in 3 C and 5 D. We concluded that early D therapy may be associated with an increase in neuro and psychomotor dysfunction when followed at 2 years of age.