National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health PubMed Abstract: Antenatal magnesium sulfate for the prevention of cerebral palsy in preterm infants less than 34 weeks gestation: a systematic reiew and metaanalysis
As many more premature infants survive, the numbers of these infants with health problems increases. The rate of cerebral palsy (CP) in extremely premature infants is approximately 20%. Magnesium sulfate, the most commonly used drug in the US to stop premature labor, may prevent CP. This trial tests whether magnesium sulfate given to a woman in labor with a premature fetus (24 to 31 weeks out of 40) will reduce the rate of death or moderate to severe CP in the children at 2 years. The children receive ultrasounds of their brains as infants and attend three follow-up visits over two years to assess their health and development.
Multicenter, randomized, controlled trial to compare the anti-seizure effect of parenteral MgSO4 versus oral labetalol in hypertensive pregnant women who are eligible for MgSO4 therapy. The primary outcome measure is eclampsia, and the secondary outcome measures include blood pressure control, and relevant antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal maternal and fetal/neonatal parameters including adverse effects and complications.
NCBI NIH PubMed.gov Abstract of Finland study investigating reproductive maternal risk factors of intrapartum fetal asphyxia. The study concluded that the incidence of intrapartum fetal asphyxia was 2.5%. Placental abruption, primiparity, alcohol use during pregnancy, low birth weight, preeclampsia, male fetuses, and small-for-gestational age births were independent risk factors of intrapartum asphyxia, with adjusted relative risks of 3.74, 3.10, 1.75, 1.57, 1.49, 1.48 and 1.33, respectively. Most cases of intrapartum fetal asphyxia occur in low-risk pregnancies and, therefore, risk screening in antenatal care cannot accurately predict which women will eventually need emergency care for fetal asphyxia.
National Institute of Health NIH, National Library of Medicine PubMed article Abstract: Defining cerebral palsy: pathogenesis, pathophysiology and new intervention. The focus of this paper is to explore antenatal antecedents as etiologies of CP and the impact of obstetric care on the prevention of CP.
PubMed.gov Study Abstract - Study to identify neonatal risk factors for cerebral palsy among very preterm babies and in particular the associations independent of the coexistence of antenatal and intrapartum factors.
NIH, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - Review and trial to determine whether magnesium sulfate administered to women at risk of preterm delivery may reduce the risk of cerebral palsy in their children