Association of in utero magnesium exposure and spontaneous intestinal perforations in extremely low birth weight infants

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether antenatal exposure to magnesium is associated with spontaneous intestinal perforation in extremely low birth weight infants (≤1000 g). STUDY DESIGN: We identified all extremely low birth weight infants admitted to one of 323 neonatal intensive care units from 2007 to 2013. We used multivariable conditional logistic regression to compare outcomes in the first 21 days after birth between infants exposed and unexposed to magnesium in utero. RESULTS: Of the 28,035 infants, 11,789 (42%) were exposed to antenatal magnesium. There was no difference in the risk of spontaneous intestinal perforation, odds ratio=1.08 (95% confidence interval; 0.91–1.29), between infants exposed and unexposed to antenatal magnesium. Mortality in the first 21 days after birth was lower in the magnesium exposed infants, odds ratio=0.76 (0.70–0.83). CONCLUSION: Antenatal magnesium exposure in extremely low birth weight infants was not associated with increased risk of spontaneous intestinal perforation.