2-YEAR INFANT NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME AFTER EXPECTANT MANAGEMENT AND INDICATED PRETERM DELIVERY IN HYPERTENSIVE PREGNANCIES

Background. To evaluate the impact of the expectant management of hype rtensive disorders of pregnancy on infant neurodevelopmental outcome. Methods. The two-year neurodevelopmental outcome of infants delivered prematurely because of complications of maternal hypertension after ex pectant management was compared with that of infants of uncomplicated age-matched pregnancies delivered after spontaneous preterm labor or p remature rupture of membranes. Results. The rate of cerebral palsy was similar between the two groups. Conditional logistic regression analy sis of the matched sets showed an increased risk of minor neurodevelop mental impairment among infants delivered after severe hypertension (o dds ratio (OR)=4.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-12.1) or preecla mpsia (OR=4.0, 95% CI= 1.61-10.2). Fetal growth retardation was not as sociated with increasing infant neurodevelopmental morbidity. Conclusi ons. Infants delivered prematurely because of preeclampsia or severe h ypertension are at increased risk of later minor neurodevelopmental pr oblems.