• Maternal
• Chorioamnionitis
• Endometritis
• Other infectious morbidity
• Pulmonary edema
• Placental abruption
• Neonatal
• Stillbirth and neonatal death
• Intraventricular hemorrhage
• Neonatal infectious morbidity
• Neonatal noninfectious morbidity
• Birth weight
• Days in NICU

• Maternal
• - Chorioamnionitis
• - Endometritis
• - Other infectious morbidity
• - Pulmonary edema
• - Placental abruption
• Neonatal
• - Stillbirth and neonatal death
• - Intraventricular hemorrhage
• - Neonatal infectious morbidity
• - Neonatal noninfectious morbidity
• - Birth weight
• - Days in NICU

As many more premature infants survive, the numbers of these infants with health problems increases. The rate of cerebral palsy (CP) in extremely premature infants is approximately 20%. Magnesium sulfate, the most commonly used drug in the US to stop premature labor, may prevent CP. This trial tests whether magnesium sulfate given to a woman in labor with a premature fetus (24 to 31 weeks out of 40) will reduce the rate of death or moderate to severe CP in the children at 2 years. The children receive ultrasounds of their brains as infants and attend three follow-up visits over two years to assess their health and development.

The prevalence of cerebral palsy is increasing as the survival rate of extremely premature infants is improving. Studies have suggested an apparent association between maternal magnesium sulfate administration and a reduced risk of cerebral palsy. Other studies have suggested a possible association between magnesium sulfate and a reduction in neonatal cranial ultrasound abnormalities which may be markers for subsequent development of cerebral palsy.

This multicenter trial tests whether prophylactic magnesium sulfate given to women, for whom preterm delivery is imminent, reduces the risk of death or moderate to severe cerebral palsy in their children. Women presenting from 24.0 to 31.6 weeks gestation with advanced preterm labor or premature rupture of the membranes (pPROM) and no recent exposure to magnesium sulfate are randomized to receive either intravenous magnesium sulfate or masked study drug placebo. The study drug is administered as a 6 gram loading dose followed by a 2 gram/hour infusion (or equivalent rate for placebo). If after 12 hours, delivery has not occurred and is not anticipated, the infusion is stopped. No other parenteral tocolytics other than the IV medication may be used. Retreatment with study medication is given any time labor recurs or delivery is anticipated until gestational age is > 34.0 wks. Standard clinical management and therapy is to be maintained for all study patients. Patients are assessed for signs of intolerance to the study medications and maternal data are collected up to hospital discharge. A sample of venous blood is collected and neonatal cranial ultrasounds are performed. Up to three follow-up visits are scheduled over two years where certified examiners, masked to study group assignment, collect physical and neurological data, including a modified Gross Motor Function Classification Scale. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development is also administered. Cranial ultrasounds are reviewed centrally.

The primary outcome is a composite outcome of death or moderate to severe cerebral palsy. Secondary outcomes include maternal infectious morbidity, pulmonary edema and placental abruption, neonatal stillbirth and death, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, neonatal infectious and noninfectious morbidity.

• Cerebral Palsy
• Intraventricular Hemorrhage
• Periventricular Leukomalacia
• Pulmonary Edema
• Abruptio Placentae

• Nelson KB, Grether JK. Can magnesium sulfate reduce the risk of cerebral palsy in very low birthweight infants? Pediatrics. 1995 Feb;95(2):263-9.
• Schendel DE, Berg CJ, Yeargin-Allsopp M, Boyle CA, Decoufle P. Prenatal magnesium sulfate exposure and the risk for cerebral palsy or mental retardation among very low-birth-weight children aged 3 to 5 years. JAMA. 1996 Dec 11;276(22):1805-10.
• Hallak M, Berry SM, Madincea F, Romero R, Evans MI, Cotton DB. Fetal serum and amniotic fluid magnesium concentrations with maternal treatment. Obstet Gynecol. 1993 Feb;81(2):185-8.
• Aziz K, Vickar DB, Sauve RS, Etches PC, Pain KS, Robertson CM. Province-based study of neurologic disability of children weighing 500 through 1249 grams at birth in relation to neonatal cerebral ultrasound findings. Pediatrics. 1995 Jun;95(6):837-44.
• Pinto-Martin JA, Riolo S, Cnaan A, Holzman C, Susser MW, Paneth N. Cranial ultrasound prediction of disabling and nondisabling cerebral palsy at age two in a low birth weight population. Pediatrics. 1995 Feb;95(2):249-54.
• Rouse DJ, Hirtz DG, Thom E, Varner MW, Spong CY, Mercer BM, Iams JD, Wapner RJ, Sorokin Y, Alexander JM, Harper M, Thorp JM Jr, Ramin SM, Malone FD, Carpenter M, Miodovnik M, Moawad A, O'Sullivan MJ, Peaceman AM, Hankins GD, Langer O, Caritis SN, Roberts JM; Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. A randomized, controlled trial of magnesium sulfate for the prevention of cerebral palsy. N Engl J Med. 2008 Aug 28;359(9):895-905.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant with diagnosis of preterm labor
• Membrane rupture or delivery definitely planned within 24 hours
• Gestational age > 24.0 and < 31.6 wks, viable fetus

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior IV magnesium sulfate therapy within 12 hours of screening
• Delivery expected <2 hrs
• Cervical dilation > 8 cm
• More than 2 fetuses
• Known major fetal anomalies
• Hypertension or preeclampsia
• Maternal medical complications contraindicating magnesium sulfate treatment
• Participation in any intervention study which influences infant neurological outcome
• Previous participation in this trial