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Maternal infections during pregnancy and cerebral palsy: a population-based cohort study

Jessica E Miller1, Lars Henning Pedersen, Elani Streja

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
|October 15, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Maternal genito-urinary tract infections and antibiotic use during pregnancy are linked to a higher risk of cerebral palsy (CP) in children. These findings suggest prenatal infections may play a role in CP development.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) is a prevalent motor disability affecting children.
  • Understanding risk factors for congenital CP is crucial for prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal infections during pregnancy and the risk of congenital CP.
  • To identify specific types of infections and antibiotic use linked to CP development.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study of liveborn singletons in Denmark (1997-2003) was conducted.
  • Maternal infections and antibiotic redemption were used as exposure markers.
  • Cox proportional hazard models were employed to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

  • Maternal genito-urinary tract infections were associated with an increased risk of CP (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4, 3.2).
  • Antibiotic use, specifically nitrofurantoin, showed an association with CP (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1, 2.8).
  • CP risk was elevated with antibiotic prescriptions in the first trimester and genito-urinary tract infections in the third trimester.

Conclusions:

  • Genito-urinary tract infections and antibiotic use during pregnancy are associated with increased CP risks.
  • Prenatal infections and their treatment may be part of the causal pathway for CP.
Abstract

Keywords:
bacterial infectionscongenital cerebral palsymaternal infectionspregnancy

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