This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the probable timing of events leading to cerebral palsy (CP) in singletons born small for gestational age (SGA) at term, taking neonatal death into consideration.
METHODS: In this registry-based cohort study, data on 400 488 singletons born during 1996–2003 were abstracted from the Medical Birth and the CP registries of Norway. Among 36 604 SGA children (birth weight <10th percentile), 104 died in the neonatal period and 69 developed CP. Apgar scores at 5 minutes, risk factors, MRI findings, and CP subtypes were used to assess the timing of events leading to CP or neonatal death.
RESULTS: Intrapartum origin of CP was considered in 5 SGA children (7%; 95% confidence interval: 3–16) in comparison with 31 of 263 (12%; 95% confidence interval: 8–16) non-SGA children (P = .28). The proportions of children who died in the neonatal period after a probable intrapartum event did not differ between the groups when children with congenital malformations were excluded. Probable antenatal events leading to CP and neonatal death were more common among SGA than non-SGA children (P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS: In ∼90% of children born SGA the event leading to CP is of probable antenatal origin. The low proportion of SGA children with CP after a probable intrapartum event was not outweighed by a higher neonatal mortality rate when congenital malformations were excluded. The higher risk of CP among SGA than among non-SGA children is probably due to a higher prevalence of antenatal risk factors.
- CI —
- confidence interval
- CP —
- cerebral palsy
- CPRN —
- Cerebral Palsy Register of Norway
- IUGR —
- intrauterine growth restriction
- MBRN —
- Medical Birth Registry of Norway
- OR —
- odds ratio
- SGA —
- small for gestational age
- Accepted August 14, 2012.
- Copyright © 2012 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Individual Login
Institutional Login
You may be able to gain access using your login credentials for your institution. Contact your librarian or administrator if you do not have a username and password.