SMFM: Magnesium Sulfate May Prevent Cerebral Palsy
In women with anticipated early preterm delivery, intravenous maternal magnesium sulfate administration is associated with a 50 percent lower risk of moderate to severe cerebral palsy in their offspring, according to research presented this week at the 28th annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Dallas.
THURSDAY, Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) -- In women with anticipated early preterm delivery, intravenous maternal magnesium sulfate administration is associated with a 50 percent lower risk of moderate to severe cerebral palsy in their offspring, according to research presented this week at the 28th annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Dallas.
Dwight J. Rouse, M.D., of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues randomly assigned 2,241 women who had preterm premature rupture of membranes, advanced preterm labor, or indicated delivery from 24-31 weeks' gestation and no signs of preeclampsia, to receive either placebo or intravenous treatment with 6 grams of magnesium sulfate followed by administration of 2 grams of magnesium sulfate per hour.
Compared to the placebo group, the researchers found that magnesium sulfate had no effect on reducing rates of the primary study outcome: a composite of moderate or severe cerebral palsy at the corrected age of 2 years or death (relative risk, 0.97). But they found that magnesium sulfate was associated with a dramatically lower risk of moderate to severe cerebral palsy alone (RR, 0.55).
"[Magnesium sulfate] did not reduce the rate of the primary outcome of moderate to severe cerebral palsy or death, perhaps because death was the predominant component of the outcome," the authors write.
More Information from Annual Meeting
Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Michael Daines, MD, discusses pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome
June 12th 2025Michael O. Daines, MD, outlines key diagnostic criteria and treatment challenges for pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary care and improved treatment access.
