title: Increased risk of brain injury in IVF babies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to assess brain injury occurrence among in vitro fertilization (IVF) babies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined all babies born in our hospital in the triennium 2004-2006, comparing the presence of brain injuries between IVF babies and the rest of the population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In IVF group (180 babies), brain injury was present in 4 babies, while in the rest of population (n=3602) it was present in 23 babies (P=0.042, RR: 3.18). IVF babies have a higher risk of being born with a birthweight less than 2 500 grams (P<0.0001; RR: 5.133). When we considered only babies born with a birth weight less than 2 500 grams, the difference of brain injury between the two groups was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In IVF babies, brain injury occurred more frequently than in the rest of population. This is probably due to a higher rate of premature births and low birth weight in IVF population. Anyway, this data should be disclosed to future parents to make an informed decision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics Obstetrics and Reproduction Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. bellieni@iol.it
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Bellieni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bagnoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tei
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Filippo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buonocore
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors