title: Fetal assessment based on the fetal biophysical profile score: relationship of last BPS result to subsequent cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prime intent of this study was to determine the relationship if any between the last fetal biophysical profile score and the risk of cerebral palsy at age 3 years. The secondary objective was to examine the clinical characteristics of infants with cerebral palsy whose obstetric management included serial fetal biophysical profile scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  The incidence of a high risk pregnant population whose antenatal assessment was by serial fetal biophysical profile scoring was determined by cross-referencing two discrete data bases. The completeness and reliability of the data bases was confirmed by secondary audit. Obstetrical, neonatal and post-natal clinical records of index cases of cerebral palsy were subsequently reviewed, categorized and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fetal biophysical profile scores (BPS) were recorded in 22,336 high risk pregnancies: 27 patients delivered an infant subsequently identified as having cerebral palsy (rate 1.21 per 1000). The relationship between last BPS result and cerebral palsy was inverse, exponential and highly significant (R2 = 0.987; p < 0.001). Affected infants with a last abnormal BPS result were significantly more likely to exhibit fetal distress (88.8%), acidosis (77.7%), and have neonatal seizures (88.8%). Antenatal asphyxia was the apparent cause of cerebral damage in 29.6% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The last fetal biophysical profile score is a predictor of the risk of cerebral palsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bondagji
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Harman
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Casiro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menticoglou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008350:Manitoba; D008485:Medical Audit; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors