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Published on: November 20, 2015
Risk factors for cerebral palsy in term birth infants
W Kułak1, B Okurowska-Zawada, D Sienkiewicz
1Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Medical University in Białystok, Poland. kneur2@wp.pl
Insights
Identifying antenatal, intrapartum, and neonatal risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP) in term infants is crucial. This study highlights pre-eclampsia, placental issues, birth asphyxia, and neonatal complications as significant contributors to CP etiology.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a significant developmental disorder.
- Identifying risk factors is key to prevention and early intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify antenatal, intrapartum, and neonatal risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP) in term birth infants.
- To analyze these factors within a hospital-based cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for 213 children with CP and 280 controls.
- Study included live births over 36 weeks gestation between 1990 and 2005.
- Comparison of antenatal, intrapartum, and neonatal events between CP cases and controls.
Main Results:
- Male infants constituted 57% of the CP group.
- Spastic tetraplegia and spastic hemiplegia were the most common CP types.
- Antenatal/intrapartum risks: pre-eclampsia, abruptio placenta, placenta previa. Birth asphyxia was significantly higher in CP infants (p<0.001).
- Neonatal risks: respiratory distress syndrome, meningitis, and neonatal seizures were associated with increased CP incidence.
Conclusions:
- Confirms multiple antenatal, intrapartum, and neonatal factors contribute to the etiology of cerebral palsy in term infants.
- Highlights the importance of monitoring and managing these risk factors during pregnancy and delivery.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to identify the antenatal, intrapartum and neonatal risk factors in term birth infants for cerebral palsy (CP) among babies in a hospital-based study.
Materials And Methods:
The medical records of children with cerebral palsy referred to our Pediatric Rehabilitation Department in Bialystok were reviewed. Antenatal, intrapartum, and neonatal events were compared among 213 children with CP and 280 controls in a retrospective study. We studied live births >36 weeks gestation born between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2005.
Results:
Fifty-seven percent of the infants with CP were male. Spastic tetraplegia 78 (36.61%) and spastic hemiplegia 65 (30.51%) were the dominant types of CP. Factors associated with an increased risk of CP identified as antenatal and intrapartum risk factors were pre-eclampsia, abruptio placenta, and placenta previa. Birth asphyxia occurred significantly more often (p<0.001) in children with CP compared to controls. In the neonatal period, respiratory distress syndrome, meningitis and neonatal seizures were associated with an increased incidence of CP.
Conclusion:
Our findings confirm that several antenatal, intrapartum and neonatal risk factors for CP in term birth infants contribute to the etiology of CP.
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