Vitamins C and E in the latency period in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes

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S. Bornaa, Corresponding Author Contact Information, H. Bornab and B. Daneshbodie
aDepartment of Perinatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
bDepartment of Pediatrics, Shahed University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Received 1 December 2004; accepted 23 March 2005. Available online 23 May 2005.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether supplementation with vitamins C and E after preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is associated with an increased latency period. Methods: In this double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, 60 women with singleton pregnancies of 26 to 34 weeks' duration and PPROM were randomly assigned to vitamin C (500 mg/day) and vitamin E (400 IU/day) or placebo until delivery. All women received 2 doses of betamethasone in the first 24 h after admission as well as broad-spectrum antibiotic prophylaxis.

Results: Important demographic, as well as clinical characteristics such as number of cases of chorioamnionitis, early neonatal sepsis, and respiratory distress syndrome, were similar in the 2 groups. A statically significant difference in the mean ± S.D. number of days of latency was found between the groups (10.5 ± 5.2 days vs. 3.5 ± 4.0 days (P = 0.03).

Conclusion: Vitamins C and E supplementation of after PPROM is associated with a longer latency before delivery.