Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Antenatal Late Preterm Steroids (ALPS): A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Brief Summary: This is a randomized placebo controlled trial to evaluate whether antenatal corticosteroids can decrease the rate of neonatal respiratory support, thus decreasing the rate of NICU admissions and improving short-term outcomes in the late preterm infant. The use of antenatal corticosteroids has been shown to be beneficial in women at risk for preterm delivery prior to 34 weeks but has not been evaluated in those likely to deliver in the late preterm period


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

Singleton Pregnancy. A twin pregnancy reduced to singleton (either spontaneously or therapeutically) before 14,0 weeks by project gestational age is acceptable

Gestational age at randomization between 34,0 weeks and 36,5 weeks confirmed by study criteria

High probability of delivery in the late preterm period (any one of the following):

* Membrane rupture as defined by the occurrence of any two of the following: pooling of fluid in the vaginal vault, positive Nitrazine test, ferning of vaginal fluid, positive AmniSure test; or any one of the following: indigo carmine pooling in the vagina after amnioinfustion, visible leakage of amniotic fluid from the cervix

or

* Preterm labor with intact membranes. Preterm labor is defined as at least 6 regular uterine contractions in an observation period of no more than 60 minutes and at least one of the following: cervix greater than or equal to 3cm dilated or at least 75% effaced

or

* Planned delivery by induction of labor or cesarean section in no less than 24 hours and no more than 7 days, as deemed necessary by the provider. An induction must be scheduled to start by 36,5 weeks at the latest, whereas a cesarean delivery must be scheduled by 36,6 weeks at the latest. Therefore the latest gestational age for randomization is 36,4 weeks for a planned induction. The planned delivery may be for any indication, such as the following: prior myomectomy, prior classical cesarean, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), oligohydramnios, preeclampsia, nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing warranting delivery, abruption, placenta previa

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any prior antenatal corticosteroid course during the pregnancy because of potential contamination of the placebo group
2. Candidate for stress dose corticosteroids because of chronic steroid therapy to prevent suppression of adrenal gland, because of potential contamination of the placebo group
3. Twin gestation reduced to a singleton gestation at or after 14 weeks 0 days by project gestational age either spontaneously or therapeutically
4. Fetal demise, or known major fetal anomaly, including cardiac anomaly and hydrops
5. Maternal contraindication to betamethasone: hypersensitivity reaction to any components of the medication, idiopathic thromboycytopenic purpura, systemal fungal infection in case of exacerbation by betamethasone, use of amphotericin B due to the possibility of heart failure with concomitant betamethasone
6. Pre-gestational diabetes - exclude if the patient was on medication (insulin, glyburide) prior to pregnancy
7. Delivery expected within 12 hours of randomization, because of insufficient time of corticosteroids to confer benefit, including any of the following:

   A. Rupture of Membranes (ROM) does not satisfy protocol criteria - exclude if the patient being evaluated for Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (pPROM), does not have preterm labor or planned delivery and does not satisfy the spontaneous membrane rupture criteria (any 2 of: positive Nitrazine test, pooling of fluid in the vaginal vault test or ferning of vaginal fluid; or indigo carmine pooling in the vagina after amnioinfusion; or visible leakage of amniotic fluid from the cervix) B. Rupture of the membranes in the presence of more than 6 contractions per hour or cervical dilation of 3 cm or more, unless oxytocin was withheld for at least 12 hours (other induction agents allowed) C. Chorioamnionitis - exclude if patient is diagnosed with chorioamnionitis D. Cervical dilation ≥ 8 cm E. Evidence of non-reassuring fetal status requiring immediate delivery
8. Participation in another interventional study that influences neonatal morbidity and mortality
9. Participation in this trial in a previous pregnancy
10. Delivery at a non-network hospital
11. At 36, 0 weeks to 36, 5 weeks and quota for 36 weeks already met. To ensure there is an adequate proportion of women presenting at 34 to 35 weeks of gestation, enrollment will be restricted so that no more than 50% of the women in the trial present at 36 weeks.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Women who have previously received one completed course of ACS, at least 14 days ago and continue to be at increased risk of preterm birth
* Gestational age greater ≥ 26 weeks and gestational age \< 31 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

* Women requiring chronic doses of corticosteroids secondary to medical conditions
* Women with a contraindication to corticosteroids
* Women with clinical evidence of chorioamnionitis (temperature ≥ 38°c)
* Known lethal congenital anomaly (e.g. anencephaly)
C: This is an intent-to-treat design and thus all pregnancy outcomes of women who deliver in the study clusters and provide consent will be collected. Cluster-level inclusion criteria include

* At least 250 deliveries per year.
* Birth attendants within the health cluster will be consented to participate

Participant-level inclusion criteria include all pregnant women living in and delivering in the study cluster who:

* Are between 24 and 36 weeks GA;
* Present with signs of preterm labor, amniotic fluid leakage, hemorrhage, or hypertension;
* Provide consent for injection or present to a facility where it is standard of care.

Exclusion Criteria:

* There will not be any specific exclusion criteria for clusters or participants.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

The pregnant women will be eligible for the trial entry if all following criteria are met:

* administration of a course of antenatal corticosteroid at least 7 days before the trial entry
* gestational age is less than 33.0 weeks 6 days\*
* very high risk of premature delivery\*\*
* none of the following therapies complications or therapies maternal long term systemic corticosteroid therapy severe clinical chorioamnionitis (maternal fever, increased CRP or another acute phase protein, uterine tenderness) lethal disease of the fetus
* informed consent obtained
* premature rupture of membranes is not contraindication for the trial entry

  \*Gestational age will be calculated from the mother's last menstrual period and confirmed by ultrasound before 20 weeks' gestation. In case the discrepancy in the estimates exceeds two weeks, ultrasound date is accepted.

  \*\*Very high risk of premature delivery is described as follows:
* elective delivery within within 4-48 hours, as indicated by the obstetrician on the basis of the clinical status of the mother and/or the fetus
* very high risk of spontaneous delivery within 4-48 hours, i.e.
* cervix is open \> 3 cm
* contractions of the uterus at 5-10 min intervals
* rupture of the membranes after the first course of ANC
* fetal and/or maternal indication for elective premature delivery or cesarean section

Answer: A