Influence of Neonatal Diseases and Treatments on the Development of Cerebral Palsy in Preterm Infant

Objective To investigated the risk factors of cerebral palsy development in preterm infants. Methods This study included 203 preterm infants (gestation age<37 weeks) diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and 220 preterm infants without cerebral palsy or any other severe neurological disorders during April 2005 to August 2011. The risk factors in the development of cerebral palsy, including the diseases of premature infants and the treatments in neonatal period, were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results Multivariate logistic analysis for the risk factors associated with cerebral palsy in neonatal period found significant differences in the occurrence of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL, OR=39.87, P<0.05), hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE, OR=4.24, P<0.05), hypoglycemia of neonatal (OR=2.18, P<0.05), neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (OR=1.72, P<0.05), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP, OR=0.21, P<0.05). Conclusion The factors including PLV, HIE, hypoglycemia, and neonatal jaundice may increase the risk in the development of CP in preterm infant. while CPAP may decrease the risk of cerebral palsy.