News release

From: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)

New research led by SAHMRI has added to growing evidence that giving a magnesium sulphate infusion to women at risk of very preterm birth is helping more babies survive without cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood and is more likely to occur in babies born very preterm. The condition can affect movement, posture and coordination, with impacts that can last throughout life.

The study, recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, was led by Dr Emily Shepherd from SAHMRI's Women and Kids Theme and Adelaide University, in collaboration with fellow SAHMRI researchers Professor Alice Rumbold and Associate Professor Lisa Yelland, alongside collaborators from Australia and New Zealand.

Researchers analysed outcomes for children born extremely preterm or with very low birthweight and found those who received antenatal magnesium sulfate before birth were more likely to survive without cerebral palsy or moderate-to-severe functional impairment at two to three years of age.

Dr Shepherd says the findings provide reassurance that the treatment is making a life-changing difference for families.

"For babies born very early, magnesium sulfate is a simple, low-cost treatment that can have a lifelong impact,” Dr Shepherd said.

"While previous clinical trials have shown magnesium sulfate can protect a baby's developing brain, this study demonstrates those benefits are also being achieved in real-world healthcare settings across Australia and New Zealand.”

The findings support the ongoing use and wider implementation of clinical practice guidelines recommending magnesium sulfate before very preterm birth.

"Cerebral palsy can have a profound impact on children and their families. Seeing improved survival without cerebral palsy at a population level is a powerful reminder of how evidence-based care can change lives,” Dr Shepherd said.