Maternal risk factors for fetal and neonatal brain damage

Prematurity is probably the major factor associated with brain damage in ne wborns. Our growing knowledge of the biochemical mechanisms leading to the onset of labour at term allows the biochemical correlates of the epidemiolo gical risk factors for prematurity to be understood. Infection is the major cause of early preterm labour and is now recognised to be a major cause of fetal cerebral damage leading to cerebral palsy. Only some 5% of cerebral palsy is due to intrapartum asphyxia at term. This may occur due to an obst etric catastrophe or through inadequate placental function leading to chron ic intrapartum asphyxia. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG. Basel.