[Psychomotor and cognitive development of children born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection]

To analyse data on psychomotor and cognitive development of children born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Open cross-section clinical study.

Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague and Department of Paediatrics, Charles University, 2nd Medical School and University Hospital Motol, Prague.

In 133 children (75 boys and 58 girls) psychological examination was made at the age range 11 months - 8.5 years in the years 2004-2006. All children were born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Psychomotor development of children aged from 11 months to 3.5 years was assessed using the Bayley Scales (BSID-II). In older children, Global Intelligence McCarthy Test was used.

In our sample of ICSI-children, no significantly higher incidence of children delayed in mental (cognitive) as well as in motor development has been found as compared with the population norms. However, the results indicate a significantly lower average value of the Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) in the group of younger children as compared with the given norm (92.3 +/- 13.9 versus 100 +/- 15; p<0.01). In the group of older children, lower average value of the General Cognitive Index (GCI), as compared with corrected population norm has been found (105.1 +/- 14.7 versus 110 +/- 16; p<0.05). In the group of twins, a significantly higher number of mild developmental disorders was ascertained on the contrary in the group of singletons (64.7% versus 333%; p<0.01) in our older children conceived by ICSI.

The results indicate only mild lowering of some performances in our ICSI-children: in motor domain in younger children, and in cognitive domain in older children. Children from multiple pregnancies are at greater developmental risk than singletons.