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Cerebral palsy in Saudi Arabia: a case-control study of risk factors
S al-Rajeh1, O Bademosi, A Awada
1Department of Neurology, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Antenatal factors, including inherited conditions and parental consanguinity, are major risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP) in Saudi Arabia. This study highlights the significant role of these factors in CP development, even in developing regions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) etiology varies globally, with developed nations linking it to antenatal factors and developing nations to perinatal/postnatal issues.
- Optimal delivery conditions are often lacking in developing countries, potentially increasing perinatal/postnatal CP risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate antecedent factors contributing to cerebral palsy (CP) in Saudi children.
- To compare risk factors in Saudi children with CP against a control group.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 103 Saudi children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP).
- Comparison of antenatal, perinatal, and postnatal antecedent factors between CP cases and a control group.
Main Results:
- Key risk factors identified for cerebral palsy (CP) included a family history of CP and parental consanguinity.
- Lower birth weight (<2000g), preterm birth (<32 weeks gestation), twin pregnancies, and respiratory distress were more prevalent in children with CP.
- Antenatal factors, including genetic predispositions, were found to be significant contributors to CP pathogenesis in this Saudi cohort.
Conclusions:
- Antenatal factors, particularly inherited ones, play a substantial role in the development of cerebral palsy (CP) in Saudi Arabia.
- The contribution of antenatal factors to CP pathogenesis in developing countries may be underestimated.
- Findings challenge previous assumptions about CP etiology in the region, emphasizing the importance of genetic and early developmental factors.
Abstract:
There is increasing evidence that cerebral palsy (CP) in developed countries results mainly from antenatal factors, whereas reports from developing countries suggest that perinatal and postnatal factors may be more important because of less than optimal delivery conditions. The authors studied 103 Saudi children with CP and compared their antecedent factors with those of a control group. The major risk factors identified were a history of CP in a sibling and consanguinity of the parents. Low birthweight (less than 2000g), gestational age less than 32 weeks, twin pregnancy and respiratory distress were significantly more frequent among CP cases than controls. The results suggest that antenatal factors, including inherited ones, play a major role in the pathogenesis of CP in Saudi Arabia, which is contrary to previous reports from this region. Their contribution to the pathogenesis of CP in developing countries may be greater than previously assumed.
