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 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.