Is there a difference between 2 doses of 12 mg of dexamethasone given 12 hours apart compared with 4 doses of 6 mg dexamethasone given 12 hours apart in terms of the dosing regimen's impact on causing high blood sugar in the mother when dexamethasone is given to minimise risk of prematurity complications?
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN16613220 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16613220 |
| Protocol serial number | MREC 201813-3 |
| Sponsor | University Malaya |
| Funder | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Malaya |
- Submission date
- 25/01/2018
- Registration date
- 13/02/2018
- Last edited
- 18/01/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Dexamethasone is a type of medication that can be given to pregnant women who are at risk of delivering their babies early to help improve either baby’s health. Giving dexamethasone to the mother while she is still pregnant in order to improve the baby's maturity are usually administered 12 mg for 2 doses 12 hours apart or 6 mg for 4 doses 12 hours apart in contemporary practice. Both regimens are considered effective in helping the baby. However, this medication can cause the mother’s blood sugar level to go up, an effect which may last up to 5 days. High maternal blood sugar level can slow the baby's lung maturation undermining the positive impact the medication can have on the baby. It is not currently known which antenatal dexamethasone regimen of 4 doses has a better impact on maternal blood glucose levels over the 3 days following the start of dexamethasone administration. A lower individual dose of 6 mg spread out over 36 hours may have a less severe impact on pushing maternal blood sugar level up then a 12 mg spread out over 12 hours. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the two dexamethasone regimens on episodes of high maternal blood glucose.
Who can participate?
Women aged 18 and older who have mild gestational diabetes who are planned to use dexamethasone.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group receive 2 doses of 12 mg of dexamethasone 12 hours apart, given to them in an injection to a muscle. Those in the second group receive 4 doses of 6mg of dexamethasone 12 hours apart, given in an injection to a muscle. Participants monitor their blood sugar level themselves six times per day (before and 2 hours after breakfast, lunch and dinner) for the three days after their injections. The outcomes of the births are collected.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no major benefits or risks anticipated to either mother or baby from the interventions.
Where is the study run from?
University Malaya Medical Center (Malaysia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2018 to November 2019
Who is funding the study?
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Malaya (Malaysia)
Who is the main contact?
1. Professor Tan Peng Chiong (Scientific)
2. Dr Nuraini Sukarna (Scientific)
Contact information
Scientific
University Malaya Medical Centre
Lembah Pantai
Kuala Lumpur
59100
Malaysia
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-8713-6581 |
|---|
Scientific
University Malaya Medical Centre
Lembah Pantai
Kuala Lumpur
59100
Malaysia
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised clinical trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Antenatal dexamethasone regimen in mild gestational diabetes: A Randomized controlled trial |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to show that a regimen 4 doses of 6 mg of dexamethasone compared with 2 doses of 12 mg dexamethasone every 12 hours causes less hyperglycaemia in mild gestational diabetes mellitus. |
| Ethics approval(s) | The Medical Research & Ethics Committee, University Malaya Medical Center, 17/1/2018, ref: no 201813-3 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Women with mild gestational diabetes mellitus between 24-38 weeks receiving antenatal dexamethasone for improvement of neonatal outcome. |
| Intervention | Randomisation sequence is generated in blocks of 4 or 8 by an investigator using random.org by an investigator not involved in recruitment. Randomisation is effected by the opening of sealed numbered opaques which contain the allocation of intervention. Participants are randomly allocated to receive either 1. Two doses of 12 mg of dexamethasone administered intramuscularly 12 hours apart (cumulative dose 24 mg of dexamethasone; duration of intervention 12 hours) or 2. Four doses of 6 mg of dexamethasone administered intramuscularly 12 hours apart (cumulative dose 24 mg of dexamethasone; duration of intervention 36 hours) Participants are followed up with self monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) using a personal glucometer 6 times per day (before and 2 hours after breakfast, lunch and dinner) for the three days (or up to delivery whichever occurs sooner) following initiation of dexamethasone injections. Secondary outcomes includes maternal and neonatal delivery outcomes extracted from hospital records. |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Dexamethasone |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
The number of Hyperglycaemia episodes is measured using the self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) pre and post main meals following administration of antenatal dexamethasone at six time points (first 24 hours). |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Hyperglycaemia episodes in the second 24 hours after administration of antenatal dexamethasone is measured using self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) pre and post main meals following administration of antenatal dexamethasone at six time points (second 24 hours) |
| Completion date | 01/10/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 60 |
| Total final enrolment | 60 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. All antenatal cases with mild gestational diabetes mellitus between 24-38 weeks who are planned for antenatal dexamethasone for improvement of neonatal outcome. Gestational diabetes mellitus defined as 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) of fasting blood glucose ≥ 5.1 mmol/l or a 2 hours post prandial glucose ≥ 7.8 mmol/l (American Diabetes Association 2016 guidelines). A "mild case of gestational diabetes" is defined as a patient adequately controlled glycaemic status without the for need oral hypoglycaemic agent or insulin. 2. Age more than 18 years old 3. Singleton pregnancy 4. Viable pregnancy |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Patients on hypoglycaemic agent or insulin 2. Pre-existing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus 3. Baseline capillary blood glucose level more than 11mmol/L (at recruitment) 4. Patients in active labour or likely to deliver within the next 24 hours after administration of antenatal dexamethasone 5. Evidence of chorioamnionitis or other maternal or fetal infection 6. Patients on terbutaline or other beta-mimetic agents 7. Diet restricted in anticipation of imminent Caesarean birth |
| Date of first enrolment | 15/02/2018 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/08/2018 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Malaysia
Study participating centre
Lembah Pantai, 59100
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
59100
Malaysia
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Professor Peng Chiong Tan, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Faculty of Medicine University Malaya pctan@um.edu.my. Participant level data can be made available 2 years after trial publication subject to ethical board approval. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/01/2021 | 18/01/2021 | Yes | No |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
18/01/2021: Publication reference added.
04/11/2019: The following changes have been made:
1. The recruitment start date has been changed from 02/02/2018 to 15/02/2018.
2. The recruitment end date has been changed from 31/10/2018 to 30/08/2018.
3. The overall trial end date has been changed from 30/11/2018 to 01/10/2018.
4. The intention to publish date has been changed from 01/11/2019 to 30/06/2020.
5. The total final enrolment has been added.
