title: Effects of delayed cord clamping on neurodevelopment and infection at four months of age: a randomised trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect that delayed and early umbilical cord clamping have on neurodevelopment, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and symptoms of infection during the first 4 months of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Full-term infants (n = 382) were randomised to delayed (≥180 sec) or early cord clamping (≤10 sec). The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) was used to assess neurodevelopment at 4 months. Immunoglobulin G was measured at birth, 2-3 days and 4 months. Parents recorded any symptoms indicating infection during the first 4 months of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total scores from the ASQ did not differ between groups. However, the delayed cord clamping (DCC) group had a higher mean (SD) score in the problem-solving domain [55.3 (7.2) vs. 53.5 (8.2), p = 0.03] at 4 months and a lower mean (SD) score in the personal-social domain [49.5 (9.3) vs. 51.8 (8.1), p = 0.01]. The IgG level was higher in the DCC group at 2-3 days (11.7 vs. 11.0 g/L, p = 0.004), but did not differ between the groups at 4 months. Symptoms of infection were comparable between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delayed cord clamping did not affect overall neurodevelopment or symptoms of infection up to 4 months of age, but may have an impact on specific neurodevelopmental domains.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Hospital of Halland, Halmstad, Sweden. ola.k.andersson@regionhalland.se
authors: Ola
authors: O
authors: Andersson
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Domellöf
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Andersson
authors: Lena
authors: L
authors: Hellström-Westas
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014470:Umbilical Cord
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G