Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Short-term morbidities and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants exposed to magnesium sulphate treatment
Iris Morag1, Daniel Yakubovich1, Orly Stern1
1Department of Neonatology, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Tel HaShomer, Israel.
Insights
Elevated infant serum magnesium levels after maternal MgSO4 exposure in preterm infants were linked to lower locomotor scores. Higher magnesium concentrations did not increase early morbidities or long-term adverse outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Neurology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Antenatal magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is used to improve outcomes in preterm infants.
- The impact of baseline infant serum magnesium concentration (iMgC) on neurodevelopment is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baseline infant serum magnesium concentration (iMgC) and short-term and long-term outcomes in preterm infants exposed to antenatal MgSO4.
Main Methods:
- Infants born at <32 weeks gestational age and exposed to maternal MgSO4 were included.
- Infant serum magnesium concentration (iMgC) was measured immediately after birth.
- Short-term outcomes were extracted from medical records; neurodevelopment was assessed at 6-12 months corrected age using Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales.
Main Results:
- Of 145 infants exposed to MgSO4, 88 had baseline iMgC measured.
- Baseline iMgC was not associated with increased early morbidities or adverse long-term outcomes.
- Infants with iMgC above the mean (>3.5 mg/dL) showed significantly lower locomotor (P=0.016) and personal-social (P=0.041) scores.
Conclusions:
- Elevated baseline iMgC (>3.5 mg/dL) in preterm infants exposed to antenatal MgSO4 correlated with reduced locomotor development.
- Further research is warranted to explore the effects of supra-physiologic iMgC on the developing infant brain.
Aim:
The aim of the study is to examine whether baseline serum Mg concentration has an impact on short-term and long-term outcomes in preterm infants exposed antenatally to MgSO4.
Methods:
Participants included all infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at <32 weeks of gestational age. Infant serum Mg concentration (iMgC) was examined immediately after birth in those exposed to maternal MgSO4. Data for short-term outcomes were collected from the infants' computerised charts. Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 6-12 months corrected age were assessed using the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales.
Results:
Of 197 eligible infants, 145 were exposed to MgSO4. Baseline iMgC was available for 88 infants. Mean iMgC was 3.5 ± 0.88 mg/dL (1.6-5.7 mg/dL). Baseline iMgC was not associated with an increased risk for neither early morbidities nor adverse long-term outcome. However, iMgC above the mean (>3.5 mg/dL) was associated with significantly lower scores on locomotor (P = 0.016) and personal-social (0.041) scales in the first year of life.
Conclusions:
In a cohort of preterm infants antenatally exposed to MgSO4, elevated baseline iMgC (>3.5 mg/dL) was associated with lower locomotor scores. Further research is needed in order to study the relationship between supra-physiologic iMgC and its effect on the developing brain.
