Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled. The premature infants were randomized to beclomethasone or placebo on day three of life. Beclomethasone was delivered in a decreasing dosage, from 40 to 5 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day, for four days. The primary outcome measure was bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 28 days of age. Secondary outcomes included bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age, the need for systemic glucocorticoid therapy, the need for bronchodilator therapy, the duration of respiratory support, and death.