Magnesium Sulfate Protects Preterm Babies Against Cerebral Palsy

Administering magnesium sulfate to women who are at risk for preterm birth reduces the newborn's odds of developing cerebral palsy, according to researchers.

According to Lex W. Doyle of the University of Melbourne, magnesium sulfate therapy was associated with a 1.7% risk reduction in cerebral palsy.

"There is now enough evidence to support giving magnesium sulfate to pregnant women at risk of very preterm birth as a protective agent against cerebral palsy for the baby," Dr. Doyle said.

Preterm infants very often have neurological damage that shows up as cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness or physical disabilities, however, past studies have shown that magnesium sulfate prior to birth might be protective for the fetus.

Research that began in the 1990s showed that the therapy, although not always well tolerated, reduced cerebral palsy in preterm infants, and some studies showed that it reduced the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage and perinatal mortality.

Researchers involved in a study of magnesium sulfate for cerebral palsy showed that complications when administering it as a therapeutic agent were rare. Side effects included flushing, sweating, nausea, vomiting, headaches and palpitations.

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