Table 1 Eligible trials with their inclusion criteria and corticosteroid regimens as at September 2011

Garite 2009[20]

25 to < 33

Birth expected < 7 days

2 × 12 mg betamethasone 24 hours apart; or 4 × 6 mg dexamethasone 12 hours apart

1

Peltoniemi 2007[25]

< 34

Birth expected < 48 hours

1 × 12 mg betamethasone

1

Aghajafari 2002[18]

24 to 30

Weekly until 33 weeks, or birth if still at risk of preterm birth

2 × 12 mg betamethasone 24 hours apart

varied

Crowther 2006[19]

< 32

Weekly until < 32 weeks, and if still at risk of preterm birth

1 × 11.4 mg betamethasone

varied

Guinn 2001[21]

24 to < 33

Weekly until 34 weeks

2 × 12 mg betamethasone 24 hours apart

varied

Mazumder 2008[22]

26 to 33

Weekly until < 34 weeks

2 × 12 mg betamethasone 24 hours apart

varied

McEvoy 2002[23]

25 to 33

Weekly until 34 weeks

2 × 12 mg betamethasone 24 hours apart

varied

McEvoy 2010[27]

26 to 34

Rescue course 14 days after initial dose; < 34 weeks

2 × 12 mg betamethasone 24 hours apart

1

Murphy 2006[24]

25 to 32

Fortnightly until 33 weeks

2 × 12 mg betamethasone 24 hours apart

varied

Wapner 2006[26]

23 to < 32

Weekly until < 34 weeks

2 × 12 mg betamethasone; 24 hours apart

varied

Brocklehurst[14]

< 32

Weekly (with 10 and 14 day intervals being used in some centres)

2 × 12 mg betamethasone; 12 or 24

hours apart.

varied