Effect of Antenatal Magnesium Sulfate Administration on Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Choi, Seung Hee; Choi, Young Youn; Ma, Jae Sook; Hwang, Tai Ju

Abstract

PURPOSE: We investigated whether in utero exposure to magnesium sulfate is associated with lower incidence of neonatal mortality, morbidity, and neurodevelopmental abnormalities in very low birth weight infants.
METHODS
We evaluated 172 infants with birth weight less than 1,500g. According to the maternal receipt of magnesium sulfate, we divided into two groups. We reviewed the medical records of mothers and their babies to evaluate clinical outcome. RESULTS: Of 172 infants, 58(GA 30.0+/-2.3weeks, BW 1,20+/-2221g) received magnesium sulfate prior to delivery for tocolysis or preeclampsia(study group). The remaining 114(GA 29.6+/-2.3weeks, BW 1,220 +/-198g) served as the control group. Neonatal mortality was not significantly different between the two groups(12.5% vs 26.0%). There was no significant difference between the two groups in neonatal complications' RDS(52.4% vs 67.6%), BPD(16.7% vs 29.6%), apnea(52.4% vs 67.6%), IVH(23.8% vs 31.0%), PVL(4.8% vs 11.3%), NEC(7.1% vs 7.0%), ROP(26.8% vs 41.2%), and neal infection(33.3% vs 54.9%). The duration of ventilator therapy(10.9+/-7.3 vs 14.2+/-10.6 days), oxygen administration(20.2+/-20.0 vs 24.3+/-19.9 days) and admission(51.5+/-16.9 vs 54.6+/-16.7 days) were not different. Among 64 patients in whom follow up evaluation was possible more than 1 year, the incidence of cerebral palsy or developmental delay was not different(12.0% vs 12.8%). CONCLUSION: Maternal receipt of magnesium sulfate does not seem to be associated with an appreciably reduced risk of neonatal mortality, morbidity, and neurodevelopmental abnormalities in very low birth weight infants. (Abbreviations. GA, gestational age, BW, birth weight; RDS, respiratory distress syndrome; BPD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, IVH, intraventricular hemorrhage; PVL, periventricular leukomalacia; NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis; ROP, retinopathy of prematurity)