Cerebral Palsy Risk Higher in Preemies Born to Mothers With Preeclampsia

Premature babies born to mothers who suffer preeclampsia may have a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy, according to the findings of new research.  

In a study published in the British Medical Journal July 9, researchers found a significantly increased risk of cerebral palsy among smaller birth weight children born to mothers who had pre-eclampsia, and those who were born either moderately preterm (between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation) or very preterm (less than 31 weeks).

Norwegian researchers evaluated data on 850 babies with cerebral palsy born in Norway during 1996 through 2006. They compared the data from more than 616,000 children without cerebral palsy during the same time, taking the information from the Cerebral Palsy Registry of Norway (CPRN) and the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN).

Preeclampsia is a condition which affects pregnant women and is marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. It affects approximately 3–5 percent of pregnant women and can lead to preterm delivery, prematurity, perinatal morbidity and death.

The study was the first to suggest an association between preeclampsia and cerebral palsy, connected by prematurity.

Study authors Kirstin Melheim Strand and Torstein Vik also found that there was no increased risk of cerebral palsy associated with full-term babies who were normal size. Additionally, babies who were born full-term and whose mothers also had preeclampsia had no increased risk of cerebral palsy.

Researchers adjusted for factors, like the mothers age, smoking during pregnancy, in vitro fertilization and the sex of the child. They also consider the study to be an accurate representation of the total cerebral palsy population born in Norway at that time.

The Norwegian researchers found excess risk of cerebral palsy associated with preeclampsia, and premature infants; but did not determine the exact cause. In some cases, complications during delivery and even medical error may have played a role.

The study’s authors suggest health care providers heed early signs of small or low birth weight babies in mothers who have preeclampsia. Preparing for complications in the presence of these risk factors may be crucial to reducing the risk.

Cerebral Palsy and Medical Errors

Cerebral palsy is a condition which is marked by disorders of muscle coordination and movement control. The affected person often suffers from seizures, sensory impairment and cognitive limitations.

The disability is caused by a brain injury that can occur before, during or shortly after birth. When a baby is deprived of oxygen, irreversible damage may result, causing loss of motor function, developmental problems and other life-long injuries and disabilities.

While cerebral palsy can occur in the absence of a medical mistake, some of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in several states involve cases where families allege that a child developed cerebral palsy from a mistake made before, during or shortly after birth. If there is a delay in the delivery or another mistake made that results in the baby being deprived of oxygen at a crucial point during the delivery process, it can result in the development of cerebral palsy.