Effects of antenatal corticosteroids in twin neonates with late preterm birth (ACTWIN [Antenatal Corticosteroids in TWIN late preterm neonates] trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria	Exclusion criteria
Age > 20 years	Gestational age before 34 weeks 0 days or after 36 weeks 6 days
Women with twin pregnancy at 34 weeks 0 days to 36 weeks 5 days of gestation	Lethal major foetal anomaly, foetal distress or foetal death in utero
At risk for preterm birth	Expected to deliver within 12 h
preterm labour	Advanced cervical dilatation (≥8 cm) in preterm labour
PPROM	Active phase labour (cervical dilatation ≥4 cm) in PPROM
Maternal-foetal indications that need preterm delivery
Availability of written informed consent	History of a previous administration of antenatal corticosteroid within 1 week
	Administration of systemic steroid for medical indications
	Diagnosis of clinical chorioamnionitis
	Contraindication of betamethasone administration

Preterm labour is defined as regular uterine contractions with or without the following symptoms; pelvic pressure, backache, increased vaginal discharge, menstrual-like cramps, bleeding/show, cervical changes. Clinical chorioamnionitis is defined as fever > 37.8°C and the presence of two more of the following conditions: uterine tenderness, foul-odoured vaginal discharge, maternal leucocytosis(> 1500), maternal tachycardia(> 100) or foetal tachycardia(> 160)
PPROM preterm premature rupture of memebrane

ISSN: 1471-2393