Preeclampsia, preterm delivery and infant cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between preeclampsia and cerebral palsy among preterm infants.


METHODS
A cohort study of 345 singleton preterm (24 to 33 weeks gestation) infants delivered at an institution where no mothers received magnesium sulphate. We investigated the relationship of preeclampsia to the development of infant cerebral palsy (spastic quadriplegia, hemiplegia or diplegia) at two years' corrected age. Potential confounders were controlled for by politomous logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The prevalence of cerebral palsy in surviving infants from normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies was 13.4% (38/284) and 3.3% (2/61), respectively (P=0.026 by Fisher exact test). After control for potential confounders (gestational age, infant gender, birthweight standard deviation score, mode of delivery), the likelihood of infant cerebral palsy was reduced by preeclampsia (odds ratio 0.16, 95% confidence interval=0.04-0.74 for infants from preeclamptic versus normotensive pregnancies being palsied).


CONCLUSIONS
Among preterm infants, the protective effect of preeclampsia against cerebral palsy is manifest in the absence of magnesium sulphate utilization.
Spinillo
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Capuzzo
E
E
Cavallini
A
A
Stronati
M
M
De Santolo
A
A
Fazzi
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D008278:Magnesium Sulfate