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A European report shows a decline in the number of cerebral palsy cases developing among high-risk babies. American doctors are noticing a similar trend in the United States.
The report, published in the January 6 issue of The Lancet medical journal, found a decline in the number of cerebral palsy cases per 1,000 high-risk births from 60.6 in 1980 to 39.5 in 1996. The report looked at data on 1,575 babies that were either of low birth weight, or born in multiple birth pregnancies.
On top of that, the chances of survival for these babies also increased.
The improvements are especially apparent in babies that weighed less than one kilogram.
Researchers credited advances in neonatal care with the improvements to both areas. The findings show that “improvement in neonatal care has not resulted in increased survival at the cost of substantial morbidity,” the report said.
Similar Findings in the United States
A separate report has found a similar decline in cerebral palsy among high-risk babies at the Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland.
But there is not enough data to be sure if the trend is nationwide, said Dr. Maureen Hack, a co-author of the report and professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University.
“As far as I can tell, no one else has reported this,” said Hack.
Another co-author however, Dr. Deanne Wilson Costello, associate professor of pediatrics at Case Western said, “Anecdotally, pediatricians seem to be reporting similar trends, and I suspect we will see similar reports pop up around the United States.”
Why the Drop?
One of the suspected factors is the use of antenatal steroids, which are given to women before delivery, said Hack. These steroids decrease the incidence of brain damage in babies.
Another factor that may be responsible for the decline in cerebral palsy in these patients is the decreased administration of these same steroids to the babies after they are born. These drugs helped babies' lungs become stronger faster, but it also was found to have the dangerous effect of impairing brain development, said Costello.
U.S. statistics aren't available yet, because “after children are born, it takes two years for an outcome that is reliable,” said Costello.
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Provides general information about birth injuries and other resources.
Homepage to the United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia organization.