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

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 24h 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. (c) 2005 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.