Antenatal Magnesium Sulfate Is Not Associated With Improved Long-Term Neurodevelopment and Growth in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

BACKGROUND: Though antenatal magnesium sulfate (MgSO(4)) is widely used for fetal neuroprotection, suspicions about the long-term neuroprotection of antenatal MgSO(4) have been raised. METHODS: We investigated short- and long-term outcomes of antenatal MgSO4 use for 468 infants weighing < 1,500 g with a gestational age of 24–31 weeks. RESULTS: Short-term morbidities and the risk of developmental delay, hearing loss, and cerebral palsy at a corrected age of 18–24 months and 3 years of age did not decrease in the MgSO(4) group (infants who were exposed to MgSO(4) for any purpose) or neuroprotection group (infants who were exposed to MgSO(4) for fetal neuroprotection) compared with the control group (infants who were not exposed to MgSO(4)). The z-scores of weight, height, and head circumference did not increase in the MgSO(4) group or neuroprotection group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Antenatal MgSO(4) including MgSO(4) for neuroprotection did not have beneficial effects on long-term neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes.