title: Neonatal signs as predictors of cerebral palsy.
abstract: Signs of neonatal neurologic dysfunction, recorded in approximately 40,000 infants, were evaluated prospectively for their ability to predict later motor handicap. Tenfold to 33-fold increases in risk of cerebral palsy (CP) were observed in surviving children with any one of the following characteristics: birth weight less than 2,000 gm, head circumference more than 3 SD above or below the mean, five minute Apgar score of 3 or less, diminished activity or diminished cry lasting for more than one day, thermal instability, need for gavage feeding, hypotonia or hypertonia, single or multiple apneic episodes, or hematocrit less than 40%. Of worse portent, with relative risks exceeding 50, were neonatal seizures or Apgar scores of 3 or less at ten minutes or later. These characteristics were also markers of considerable risk of early death. For 0.5% of surviving infants, an overall impression of abnormality of brain function during the nursery period was recorded by the attending physician; there was a 99-fold increase in CP among these children.
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D002508:Cephalometry; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk