MECONIUM-STAINED AMNIOTIC-FLUID AND RISK FOR CEREBRAL-PALSY IN PRETERM INFANTS

Objective: To estimate the risk for cerebral palsy in preterm infants in relation to the presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid (GF). Me thods: A cohort study was conducted of 404 consecutive preterm infants delivered between 24: and 33 weeks' gestation at a single institution . Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected at birth. The diag nosis of cerebral palsy was made at 2 years' corrected age. Politomous logistic regression models were used to evaluate the odds for cerebra l palsy while adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The overal l prevalence of cerebral palsy among survivors was 11.6% (40/345). The cerebral palsy rate was 41.2% (7/17) Among infants who were meconium- stained at birth and 10% (33/328) among those who were not (P = .006 b y Fisher exact test). After adjustment for potential confounders (gest ational age and fetal gender), the odds ratio of cerebral palsy among infants delivered to women with meconium-stained AF was 6.9 (95% confi dence interval 2.32, 20.81, P = .001) relative to those delivered to w omen with clear AF. Conclusion: The results of the present study suppo rt the view that the presence of meconium in the AF is a gestational a ge-independent risk factor for cerebral palsy among preterm infants. ( C) 1997 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.