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Does MgSo4 prevent Cerebral Palsy
Rouse DJ, Hirtz DG, Thom E, et al. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Magnesium Sulfate for the Prevention of Cerebral Palsy. New Engl J Med (Aug 28, 2008); 359:895-905. Full Text | PDF
Background: Research suggests that fetal exposure to magnesium sulfate before preterm birth might reduce the risk of cerebral palsy.
Methods: In this multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned women at imminent risk for delivery between 24 and 31 weeks of gestation to receive magnesium sulfate, administered intravenously as a 6-g bolus followed by a constant infusion of 2 g per hour, or matching placebo. The primary outcome was the composite of stillbirth or infant death by 1 year of corrected age or moderate or severe cerebral palsy at or beyond 2 years of corrected age.
Results: A total of 2241 women underwent randomization. The baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. Follow-up was achieved for 95.6% of the children. The rate of the primary outcome was not significantly different in the magnesium sulfate group and the placebo group (11.3% and 11.7%, respectively; relative risk, 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77 to 1.23). However, in a prespecified secondary analysis, moderate or severe cerebral palsy occurred significantly less frequently in the magnesium sulfate group (1.9% vs. 3.5%; relative risk, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.32 to 0.95). The risk of death did not differ significantly between the groups (9.5% vs. 8.5%; relative risk, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.47). No woman had a life-threatening event.
Conclusions: Fetal exposure to magnesium sulfate before anticipated early preterm delivery did not reduce the combined risk of moderate or severe cerebral palsy or death, although the rate of cerebral palsy was reduced among survivors.
Comments: This large trial by the NICHD demonstrated some
significant neuro-protective effects of antenatal magnesium sulfate in
premature infants. The reason that the primary outcome (death or cerebral
palsy (CP)) did not show a difference between groups was do to a larger (not
significant) incidence of death in the treatment group. Since death was 3-4
times as likely as CP in this study population, it had a much greater
influence on the primary outcome. This study provides evidence that magnesium
sulfate offers neuro-protective advantages over other tocolytics that could be
used to treat preterm labor. ABK
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