PREECLAMPSIA, PRETERM DELIVERY AND INFANT CEREBRAL-PALSY

Objective: To evaluate the association between preeclampsia and cerebr al palsy among preterm infants. Study design: A cohort study of 345 si ngleton preterm (24 to 33 weeks gestation) infants delivered at an ins titution where no mothers received magnesium sulphate. We investigated the relationship of preeclampsia to the development of infant cerebra l palsy (spastic quadriplegia, hemiplegia or diplegia) at two years' c orrected age. Potential confounders were controlled for by politomous logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of cerebral pals y in surviving infants from normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies was 13.4% (38/284) and 3.3% (2/61), respectively (P=0.026 by Fisher ex act test). After control for potential confounders (gestational age, i nfant gender, birthweight standard deviation score, mode of delivery), the likelihood of infant cerebral palsy was reduced by preeclampsia ( odds ratio 0.16, 95% confidence interval=0.04-0.74 for infants from pr eeclamptic versus normotensive pregnancies being palsied). Conclusion: Among preterm infants, the protective effect of preeclampsia against cerebral palsy is manifest in the absence of magnesium sulphate utiliz ation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.