Intrauterine infection, magnesium sulfate exposure and cerebral palsy in infants born between 26 and 30 weeks of gestation.

OBJECTIVE

To identify prenatal events associated with cerebral palsy (CP) in infants born between 26 and 30 weeks of gestation.

STUDY

DESIGN

Case (n=22)-control (n=170) study was performed using a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Significant association of intrauterine infection with increased risk of CP was found in a logistic regression model that controlled for abnormal FHR patterns, placental infection, fetal acidosis at birth (umbilical artery pH<7. 1), and low Apgar score (<7) (odds ratio (OR) 5.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46-20.4). Magnesium sulfate exposure was associated with decreased risk (OR 0.13, CI 0.03-0.66) after exclusion of premature rupture of the membranes and abruptio placentae. In the magnesium exposure group, cases were infants born less than 28 weeks of gestation (3/21 vs. 0/61, P=0.015).

CONCLUSION

In this case-control study, both intrauterine infection and magnesium sulfate exposure were significant factors related to the occurrence of cerebral palsy.