Magnesium Given During Pregnancy May Protect Babies against Cerebral Palsy
Source: ScienceDaily Date: 2/11/09
Giving pregnant mothers magnesium sulphate when they are at risk of very preterm birth can help protect their babies from cerebral palsy, according to an
international review of research involving the University of Adelaide.
The
findings of this review - published January 21 on the international
research website The Cochrane Library - could help decrease the
incidence of this disabling condition, which affects one in 500 newborn
babies overall and one in 10 very premature babies (less than 28 weeks
gestation).
Magnesium sulphate therapy involves giving doses of magnesium sulphate to pregnant women via injection.
The
potential for magnesium sulphate to decrease the risk of cerebral palsy
in babies was first proposed in the early 1990s. The new Cochrane
review, which supports this suggestion, was carried out by leading
researchers from Australia (University of Melbourne and University of
Adelaide), France (University Hospital, Rouen) and the United States
(University of Alabama).
The review involved data from 6145 babies included in five trials of antenatal magnesium sulphate therapy.
"For
infants born very premature, there is a high risk of cerebral palsy,"
says one of the researchers, Professor Caroline Crowther, Director of
the University of Adelaide's Australian Research Centre for Health of
Women and Babies (ARCH), based at the Women's & Children's Hospital.
"This
new Cochrane review shows there is now evidence to support giving
magnesium sulphate therapy to women at risk of very preterm birth to
increase their unborn baby's chance of survival, free of cerebral
palsy."
The exact mechanism of magnesium sulphate in protecting
the developing brain is not certain. However, magnesium is vital for
normal cell function, may protect against destructive molecules that
can harm cells, and in some circumstances improves blood flow.
Side
effects of the treatment include flushing, sweating, nausea, vomiting,
headaches and palpitations. However, the researchers found no increase
in major complications in mothers due to magnesium therapy.
"Given
the positive findings of the Cochrane review, further studies will need
to be conducted to clarify exactly how magnesium sulphate works as a
neuroprotective agent, who should receive the medication and how best
the treatment should be given," Professor Crowther says.
Journal reference:
1. Doyle et al. Magnesium sulphate for women at risk of preterm birth
for neuroprotection of the fetus. Cochrane Database of Systematic
Reviews Reviews, 2009, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD004661 DOI:
10.1002/14651858.CD004661.pub3
Adapted from materials provided by University of Adelaide.
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