Perinatal factors associated with the neurologic impairment of children born preterm.

Objective: To determine the perinatal risk factors of long-term neurologic impairment for preterm infants.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 60 neurologically impaired and 60 healthy children, all born prematurely.

Results: There was no relation between neurologic impairment and maternal pregnancy complications or prenatal steroid administration, bacteriologic content of cervical smear, fetal presentation, fetal heart rate, or mode of delivery.

Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of triplets.

Objective: To analyze the incidence of neurodevelopmental disabilities in triplets and to find out possible connection between the outcome and perinatal events.

Design: Retrospective cohort study of 94 triplets and their outcome at 24-144 months of age correlated with gestational age, birth weight, pregnancy complications, early neonatal period, neonatal cranial ultrasound, period of birth (1985-1995, 1996-2000) and type of antenatal care.

Results: Sixty-two triplets are healthy, 15 suffer cerebral palsy (CP) and 17 minimal cerebral dysfunction (MCD).