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
Secondary identifying numbers MREC 201813-3
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
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

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

Prof Peng Chiong Tan
Scientific

University Malaya Medical Centre
Lembah Pantai
Kuala Lumpur
59100
Malaysia

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0001-8713-6581
Dr Nuraini Sukarna
Scientific

University Malaya Medical Centre
Lembah Pantai
Kuala Lumpur
59100
Malaysia

Study information

Study designRandomised clinical trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleAntenatal dexamethasone regimen in mild gestational diabetes: A Randomized controlled trial
Study hypothesisThe 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
ConditionWomen with mild gestational diabetes mellitus between 24-38 weeks receiving antenatal dexamethasone for improvement of neonatal outcome.
InterventionRandomisation 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 typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Dexamethasone
Primary outcome measureThe 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).
Secondary outcome measures1. 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)
2. Hyperglycaemia episodes in the third 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)
3. Need for hypoglycaemic agent (metformin or other) is extracted from hospital records
4. Neonatal outcomes are assessed by reviewing patient and baby notes after delivery including:
4.1. Birth weight
4.2. Umbilical cord arterial pH at birth
4.3. Apgar score at 1st and 5th minute of life/birth
4.4. Special care nursery/neonatal intensive care unit admission during birth admission
5. Maternal outcomes are assessed by reviewing patient’s notes after delivery including:
5.1. Mode of delivery
5.2. Estimated blood loss during delivery
6. Patient satisfaction score with allocated antenatal dexamethasone regimen is measured using a Visual Numerical Rating Scale (scored 0 to 10, higher score greater satisfaction) after the third day of SMBG or just after delivery if this occurs sooner
Overall study start date11/01/2018
Overall study end date01/10/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexFemale
Target number of participants60
Total final enrolment60
Participant inclusion criteria1. 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
Participant exclusion criteria1. 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
Recruitment start date15/02/2018
Recruitment end date30/08/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Malaysia

Study participating centre

University Malaya Medical Center
University Malaya Medical Centre
Lembah Pantai, 59100
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
59100
Malaysia

Sponsor information

University Malaya
University/education

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Faculty of Medicine
University of Malaya
Lembah Pantai
Kuala Lumpur
50603
Malaysia

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00vkrxq08

Funders

Funder type

University/education

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Malaya

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/06/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.Study protocol, statistical analysis plan, other are not available.
IPD sharing planThe 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

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.