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Reduced Intellectual Ability in Offspring Born from Preeclamptic Mothers: A Prospective Cohort Study

Linli Liu1, Zhou Lin1, Beihong Zheng2

  • 1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Fuzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, People's Republic of China.

Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
|October 29, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Children born to mothers with severe preeclampsia exhibit lower IQ scores and higher homocysteine (Hcy) levels. Elevated prenatal and cord blood Hcy are linked to intellectual disability in these offspring.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Severe preeclampsia may impact placental development.
  • High homocysteine (Hcy) levels are associated with intellectual disability.
  • The link between perinatal Hcy and intellectual ability in offspring of preeclamptic mothers is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the intellectual ability of offspring born to mothers with severe preeclampsia.
  • To examine the role of prenatal Hcy in predicting intellectual disability in preschool-aged children.
  • To assess the association between maternal and cord blood Hcy levels and offspring's IQ.

Main Methods:

  • Compared IQ scores of 101 children from severe preeclampsia pregnancies with 202 controls.
  • Measured maternal and cord blood Hcy levels within 7 days of delivery.
  • Evaluated Hcy associations with IQ and determined optimal cut-off values for predicting intellectual disability.

Main Results:

  • Offspring exposed to severe preeclampsia had higher cord blood Hcy and lower IQ scores.
  • Higher maternal and cord blood Hcy levels correlated with lower IQ in affected offspring.
  • Intellectual disability prevalence was 2.86 times higher in severe preeclampsia offspring; ROC analysis identified Hcy cut-offs for prediction.

Conclusions:

  • Perinatal exposure to severe preeclampsia adversely affects intellectual development.
  • Elevated maternal and cord blood Hcy levels may contribute to the observed intellectual deficits.
  • Prenatal Hcy serves as a potential predictor for intellectual disability in offspring.
Abstract

Keywords:
ROC curve analysishomocysteineintellectual abilitypreeclampsia

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