Morbidity and development in childhood of infants born after temporising treatment of early onset pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess morbidity and development in childhood of infants born after temporising management of severe early onset pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Cohort study with matched controls.


METHODS
University centre for high risk obstetrics.


METHODS
Three groups of neonates matched for gender and year of birth: one born after temporising treatment of severe early onset (<32 weeks) pre-eclampsia with an average delay of delivery of two weeks (n= 193); one born at the duration of pregnancy [1 week] of the pre-eclamptic mother on admission (control group I, n = 192); and one born at the same gestational age [1 week] as the infant of the pre-eclamptic mother (control group II, n= 189).


METHODS
Follow up at four years of age or more using medical records and questionnaires.


METHODS
The presence of various morbidities including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, motor skill problems, visual handicap, hearing loss, speech and language problems, education level and acute or chronic respiratory problems.


RESULTS
Median follow up of seven years (range 4-12) was achieved in 159 infants in the study group (83%), 122 in control group I (64%) and 110 in control group II (58%). Missing data analysis showed no differences in neonatal characteristics and morbidity between infants with and without follow up in the study group. All major and minor handicaps were less frequent in the study group than in control group I but statistical significance was reached only for acute and chronic respiratory disorders in the study group (13.8%) compared with control group I (27%).


CONCLUSIONS
Average delay of delivery of two weeks with temporising management in severe early onset pre-eclampsia is associated with a reduced risk of respiratory disorders in childhood.
Withagen
M I J
MI
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Wallenburg
H C S
HC
Steegers
E A P
EA
Hop
W C J
WC
Visser
W
W
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D004078:Dihydralazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010952:Plasma Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010952:Plasma Substitutes; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D004078:Dihydralazine