Efficacy of Magnesium sulphate as an adjuvant to antenatal steroids in prevention of Intraventricular Haemorrhage in preterm infants.

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective: To evaluate the effect of magnesium sulphate as an adjuvant to antenatal steroids in  prevention of intraventicular haemorrhage (IVH) in preterm infants.

Study Design: The present study is a prospective observational study.

Place and Duration of study: The study was conducted at Hameed Latif Hospital, Lahore from August 2022 – November 2023

Material and Methords: We enrolled 300 premature infants (26-34 weeks gestation),  divided them into two groups: Group A (n = 195) with mothers receiving MgSO4 and antenatal steroids, and Group B (n = 105) with mothers receiving only antenatal steroids. The primary outcome, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), was assessed by cranial scans on the third day of life and at discharge. SPSS 20 software was used to analyzed the data, with a p-value ≤ 0.05.

Results:  The overall prevalence of IVH was 35%, and cranial scan findings on day 3 and at discharge revealed normal results in 85.1% vs. 80.5% and 61.9% vs. 71.4% for Group A and Group B, respectively. Group A exhibited lower rates of Grade 1 and 2 IVH on day 3 (8.7% and 6.2% vs. 16.2% and 21.9% for controls, p < 0.001) and at discharge (6.2% and 10.8% vs. 7.6% and 9.5% for controls). Grade 3 and 4 IVH rates were also lower in Group A at discharge (0% and 1% vs. 2.9% and 3.8% for controls, p = 0.036).

Conclusion: Antenatal MgSO4 when used with steroids, decreases risk of IVH in premature infants.

Keywords: Magnesium sulphate, Intraventricular haemorrhage, Antenatal steroid.