Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
A Battery of Motor Tests in a Neonatal Mouse Model of Cerebral Palsy
Published on: November 3, 2016
Intrauterine growth in children with cerebral palsy
1Department of Paediatrics II, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Insights
Small for gestational age infants face a higher risk of cerebral palsy, particularly those born at term or moderately preterm. This condition may indicate early brain damage and potentiate risks from birth asphyxia and neonatal hypoxia.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Intrauterine growth retardation is a significant concern in perinatal health.
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a leading cause of childhood disability.
- Understanding risk factors for CP is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and the risk of developing cerebral palsy (CP).
- To identify specific CP subtypes linked to IUGR.
- To explore the interplay between IUGR, birth asphyxia, and neonatal hypoxia in CP etiology.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted.
- Case series included 519 children with cerebral palsy born between 1967-1982 in Sweden.
- Control series included 445 children born in the same region and period.
Main Results:
- Infants identified as small-for-gestational-age (SGA) had a significantly increased risk of cerebral palsy.
- This increased risk was observed in both term and moderately preterm infants.
- Among term infants with CP, tetraplegia was most common, followed by diplegia and dyskinetic CP.
Conclusions:
- Small-for-gestational-age status is indicative of early prenatal brain damage.
- SGA may mediate prenatal risk factors related to fetal supply deprivation.
- SGA potentiates adverse effects of birth asphyxia and neonatal hypoxia, contributing to CP development.
Abstract:
The risk of cerebral palsy in connection with intrauterine growth retardation has been analysed in a case-control study. The case series comprised 519 children with cerebral palsy born in 1967-1982 in the west health-care region of Sweden and the control series 445 children born during the same years in the same region. The risk of cerebral palsy in small-for-gestational-age infants was significantly increased in term and moderately preterm infants. The highest proportion among infants with cerebral palsy born at term was found in tetraplegia, followed by diplegia and dyskinetic cerebral palsy. It was concluded that small for gestational age on the one hand reflects early prenatal brain damage, and on the other mediates prenatal risk factors compatible with foetal deprivation of supply and also potentiates adverse effects of birth asphyxia and neonatal hypoxia.
