MATERNAL HYPERTENSION AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME IN VERY PRETERM INFANTS

Aim-To determine the outcome of preterm infants born to mothers with h ypertension during pregnancy, and preterm controls. Methods-107 infant s of 24-32 weeks gestation, born to hypertensive mothers, and 107 cont rols matched for gestational age, sex, and multiple pregnancy, born to normotensive mothers, were prospectively enrolled over 2 years. Infor mation on maternal complications and medication was obtained and neona tal mortality and morbidities recorded. Survivors were followed up to at least 2 years, corrected for prematurity. Results-One third of the hypertensive mothers were treated with antihypertensive drugs, while 1 8% received convulsion prophylaxis with phenytoin. Magnesium sulphate was not prescribed. Both groups had a mean gestational age of 29.9 wee ks, with the study infants having a significantly lower birthweight th an the controls. Four study and three control infants died in the neon atal period. Cerebral palsy was not diagnosed in any infant of a hyper tensive mother compared with five of the controls. The mean general qu otient for the two groups was very similar and no difference in the in cidence of minor neuromotor developmental problems was shown. Conclusi ons-Maternal hypertension seems to protect against cerebral palsy in p reterm infants without increasing the risk of cognitive impairment. Th is was independent of the use of maternally administered magnesium sul phate.