Neonatal outcome of temporizing treatment in early-onset preeclampsia

To assess the effect of prolongation of pregnancy on neonatal outcome by means of hemodynamic treatment in patients with early-onset preeclampsia.

A retrospective case-controlled study of 222 liveborn infants of patients with early-onset (24--31 weeks) preeclampsia, who underwent temporizing hemodynamic treatment. Of the two control groups of liveborn preterm infants of non-preeclamptic mothers one group was matched with the study group for gestational age on admission (group I), one for gestational age at birth (group II). Primary outcome measures were neonatal and infant mortality and variables of neonatal morbidity.

Median gestation in the study group of preeclamptic patients was prolonged from 29.3 to 31.3 weeks. No difference in neonatal or infant mortality was observed between infants from preeclamptic mothers and in the control groups. The study population showed better results than control group I with regard to admission to NICU (P<0.01), mechanical ventilation (P<0.001) and intracranial hemorrhage (P<0.01). Control group II had better results than the study group with respect to birthweight (P<0.001), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.01), patent ductus arteriosus (P<0.01), and retinopathy (P<0.01).

Prolongation of gestation in patients with early-onset preeclampsia may reduce neonatal morbidity, but neonates of the same gestational age without a preeclamptic mother still have a better prognosis.