Obstetric complications as risk factors for cerebral palsy or seizure disorders

K. B. Nelson and J. H. Ellenberg

In a prospective study, late obstetric complications were common, one or more occurring in 62% of 51,285 pregnancies. We examined these complications as risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP) or nonfebrile seizure disorders. Certain complications were associated with an increased rate of CP, but in babies over 2,500 g, the observed rate of CP did not exceed 2% following any condition evaluated. For most conditions, the CP rate was highest in the small subgroup of children who had five-minute Apgar scores of 3 or less. Most babies over 2,500 g born after each complication achieved five-minute Apgar scores of 7 or higher, and for them the risk of CP was not significantly greater than in children whose births were uncomplicated. Neither the complications considered nor Apgar scores were important antecedents of nonfebrile seizure disorders in children free of CP.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Maturational Effects of Lipopolysaccharide on White-Matter Injury in Fetal Sheep
Svedin et al.
J Child Neurol 2005;20:960-964.
ABSTRACT  

Intrapartum Complications Associated With Malformations of Cortical Development
Montenegro et al.
J Child Neurol 2005;20:675-678.
ABSTRACT  

Cerebrospinal Fluid Activin A Measurement in Asphyxiated Full-Term Newborns Predicts Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Florio et al.
Clin. Chem. 2004;50:2386-2389.
FULL TEXT  

The Effects of Low-Dose Endotoxin on the Umbilicoplacental Circulation in Preterm Sheep
Coumans et al.
Reproductive Sciences 2004;11:289-293.
ABSTRACT  

Increased S100B in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Infants with Bacterial Meningitis: Relationship to Brain Damage and Routine Cerebrospinal Fluid Findings
Gazzolo et al.
Clin. Chem. 2004;50:941-944.
FULL TEXT  

Update on the Epidemiology and Prognosis of Pediatric Epilepsy
Shinnar and Pellock
J Child Neurol 2002;17:S4-S17.
ABSTRACT  

Topical Review: Long-Term Developmental Outcome of Asphyxiated Term Neonates
Dilenge et al.
J Child Neurol 2001;16:781-792.
ABSTRACT  

Apgar Scores as Predictors of Chronic Neurologic Disability, by Karin B. Nelson, MD, and Jonas H. Ellenberg, PhD, Pediatrics, 1981;68:36-44
Golden
Pediatrics 1998;102:262-265.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Intrapartum Hypoxic-Ischemic Cerebral Injury and Subsequent Cerebral Palsy: Medicolegal Issues
Perlman
Pediatrics 1997;99:851-859.
FULL TEXT  

Predictors of neonatal encephalopathy in full term infants
Adamson et al.
BMJ 1995;311:598-602.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT