School-Age Outcomes Of Very Preterm Infants And Antenatal Magnesium Sulphate Therapy - A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$675,050.00
Summary
Despite recent major advances in care around the time of birth that have led to large increases in the survival rates for very preterm babies, the rate of adverse long-term health problems has not diminished in survivors, and remains too high compared with children not born very preterm. In particular they have higher rates of substantial problems with the way their brain works, particularly affecting their movement, vision, hearing, thinking and talking. We have just concluded a large clinical ....Despite recent major advances in care around the time of birth that have led to large increases in the survival rates for very preterm babies, the rate of adverse long-term health problems has not diminished in survivors, and remains too high compared with children not born very preterm. In particular they have higher rates of substantial problems with the way their brain works, particularly affecting their movement, vision, hearing, thinking and talking. We have just concluded a large clinical trial in Australia and New Zealand of magnesium sulphate which was given to mothers who were likely to deliver their baby too early (before 30 weeks of pregnancy). We have been able to show, for the first time, that magnesium sulphate was able to halve the rate of substantial problems with movement in 2 year old survivors, from 6% to 3%. However, we are not sure if this potentially important improvement will translate into better outcomes for the children as they grow older and reach school-age. As there are many examples of treatments given around the time of birth that have been shown to have some short-term benefits, but substantial long-term harms, we must be as certain as we can be that any advance in one small area of health is not counterbalanced by disadvantages in other health areas. We plan to assess the 1061 survivors from our earlier clinical trial of magnesium sulphate therapy at ages from 7-8 years, when they are at school. We will assess their movement and other important areas of their brain function, as well as their school progress and general health and growth. If we find important improvements in health at school-age of these children caused by magnesium sulphate therapy, without any substantial counterbalancing side-effects, magnesium sulphate will probably become standard therapy in mothers who are likely to deliver their baby very early. This will lead to a reduction in the burden of illness in the community caused by being born too early.Read moreRead less
Magnesium Sulphate In Women At Risk Of Preterm Birth For Fetal Neuroprotection - An Individual Patient Data Review
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$276,002.00
Summary
Infants born preterm are at high risk of dying and survivors have a higher risk of neurological problems. Evidence suggests that giving magnesium sulphate to women at risk of preterm birth prior to delivery reduces cerebral palsy in surviving children. It is unclear which women may benefit, what dose and when prior to birth should magnesium sulphate be given. This review will determine how individual women should be treated with magnesium to help protect the brain of a baby born too soon.