Magnesium sulphate given before birth does not significantly reduce death or cerebral palsy in premature babies, but may improve motor dysfunction

Question

Does giving magnesium sulphate to the mother during labour reduce the risk of cerebral palsy or death in premature babies?

Study design

Double blind randomised controlled trial.

Main results

Magnesium sulphate lowered, but did not significantly reduce, the risk of death or cerebral palsy compared with placebo (see Table 1). Magnesium sulphate significantly reduced the risk of substantial motor dysfunction compared with placebo. There were no major adverse effects in the mother, although minor adverse events were more frequent with magnesium sulphate compared with placebo (RR 2.74, 95% CI 1.81 to 4.15).

Table 1. Death, cerebral palsy and motor dysfunction of infants at 2 years of age.
	Magnesium sulphate (n=629)	Placebo N=626	RR magnesium sulphate vs placebo (95% CI)
Total deaths, n (%)	87 (14)	107 (17)	0.83 (0.64 to 1.09)
Cerebral palsy, n (%)	36 (7)	42 (8)	0.83 (0.54 to 1.27)
Substantial gross motor dysfunction, n (%)	18 (3)	34 (7)	0.51 (0.29 to 0.91)

Authors’ conclusions

Magnesium sulphate provides some protection against nerve damage in premature babies and should be investigated in future trials.