The effects of antenatal magnesium sulfate on feeding intolerance and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of antenatal magnesium sulfate administration on preterm gastrointestinal feeding intolerance and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

This observational cohort, single-centre study included preterm infants < 30 weeks gestational age or < 1250 g, who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital. These infants were divided into two groups on the basis of having received antenatal magnesium sulfate or not.

RESULTS

Overall, 118 preterm infants were enrolled. Fifty-four of these infants had received prenatal magnesium sulfate (Group 1), and 64 (42%) had not (Group 2) before their neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. The number of days to full eneteral feeding and the days of total parenteral nutrition were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p < 0.05). When gestational age, birth weight, and small for gestational age (SGA) were included as factors affecting feeding intolerance, the logistic regression analysis results showed that the administration of magnesium sulfate was an independent risk factor (adjusted OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.462-8.615; p < 0.05). Antenatal magnesium sulfate administration was not observed to have an effect on spontaneous intestinal perforation and necrotising enterocolitis.

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of antenatal magnesium sulfate has proven tocolytic and neuroprotective effects on preterm births. However, it must be taken into consideration that it can cause feeding intolerance in preterm infants without causing intestinal injury.