Does Magnesium Sulfate Prevent Cerebral Palsy?

This placebo-controlled trial provides further evidence for the neuroprotective effect of magnesium sulfate.

Prevention of cerebral palsy (CP) has become enormously important, particularly as rates of preterm birth and survival of younger preterm infants have risen. In a multisite, double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 2241 women, who were carrying singletons or twins at 24 through 31 weeks’ gestational age and who were at high risk for spontaneous delivery, received either intravenous magnesium sulfate (loading dose followed by maintenance infusion) or placebo. Inclusion criteria were rupture of membranes at 22 through 31 weeks’ gestation, advanced preterm labor with dilatation of 4 to 8 cm and intact membranes, or anticipation of preterm delivery within 2 to 24 hours.

Infants whose mothers received magnesium sulfate had a similar rate of the p…

Reviewing Author

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Does Magnesium Sulfate Prevent Cerebral Palsy?

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Reviewing Author