Maternal antecedents for cerebral palsy in extremely preterm babies: a case-control study

The study aimed to identify significant antenatal risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP) among extremely preterm infants with a matched case-control des ign. Infants born between 1989 and 1996 at 24 to 27 weeks' gestation who su rvived to hospital discharge were evaluated: 30 with a proven diagnosis of CP at 2 years corrected for prematurity and 120 control children matched fo r gestational age without CP. Information on maternal obstetric risk factor s and medication was obtained. Matched analyses were performed and odds rat ios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. An antenatal di agnosis of intrauterine growth restriction was associated with an increased risk of CP (OR 6.6; 95% CI 1.8 to 25.2), while maternal administration of corticosteroids was associated with a reduced risk of CP (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0. 1 to 0.98). A high rate of placental histopathology was achieved but no rel ation between clinical or histological chorioamnionitis or funisitis and CP was demonstrated. Maternal preeclampsia was not associated with a statisti cally significant reduction in the risk of CP. It is concluded that a reduc ed risk of CP in extremely preterm infants is associated with the antenatal use of corticosteroids.