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Magnesium sulfate is traditionally used in obstetrics to stop prematurelabor and prevent seizures in women with hypertension. The BEAM trial studiedthe link between magnesium sulfate and cerebral palsy by identifying 2,240women who were likely to give birth more than two months premature. Half ofthe women intravenously received magnesium sulfate while the other halfreceived a placebo. Children born to the women in the study were examined attwo-years-old, and results found that the children in the magnesium group were50 percent less likely to develop cerebral palsy compared to children in theplacebo group.
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"This is a substantial breakthrough in maternal fetal medicine that couldpositively impact the health of thousands of babies," said Alan Peaceman, MD,chair of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Northwestern MemorialHospital, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the NorthwesternUniversity Feinberg School of Medicine, and an investigator in the study."After 10 years of studying the effects of magnesium sulfate, it has proven tobe a successful method of reducing the outcome of cerebral palsy in prematurebirths."
Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that appears ininfancy or early childhood and permanently affects body movement and musclecoordination. In the U.S., two to three children in 1,000 are affected withcerebral palsy, and about 800,000 children and adults of all ages have thedisorder, which is caused by damage in parts of the brain that control musclemovements.
The most common form of cerebral palsy is congenital, resulting fromintra-uterine brain injury and accounting for approximately 70 percent ofcases. Although there is no direct cause of the disorder, risk factorsincluding premature birth and low birth weight are directly correlated toinstances of cerebral palsy.
"Based on results of the study, in the future it is possible that women atrisk of prematurely giving birth could proactively receive magnesium sulfateto reduce their child's chances of developing cerebral palsy," adds Dr.Peaceman. "With additional research, it is possible that in the next few yearsthis will be a standard of care."
About Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of the country's premier academicmedical centers and is the primary teaching hospital of the NorthwesternUniversity Feinberg School of Medicine. Along with its Prentice Women'sHospital and Stone Institute of Psychiatry, the hospital comprises 897 beds,1,424 affiliated physicians and 6,464 employees. Northwestern Memorial isrecognized for providing exemplary patient care and state-of-the artadvancements in the areas of cardiovascular care; women's health; oncology;neurology and neurosurgery; solid organ and soft tissue transplants andorthopaedics.
Northwestern Memorial possesses nursing Magnet Status, the nation'shighest recognition for patient care and nursing excellence, and it is listedin 10 clinical specialties in U.S. News & World Report's 2008 "America's BestHospitals" guide. For seven years running, it has been rated among the "100Best Companies for Working Mothers" guide by Working Mother magazine. Thehospital is a repeat recipient of the prestigious National Quality Health CareAward and for more than a decade has been chosen by Chicagoans as their "mostpreferred hospital" according to the N
