Article

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review in order to
identify the risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP) in children born at term. The
secondary aim was to ascertain if the potential for prevention of these risk
factors has been adequately explored. METHOD: A MEDLINE search up to 31 July 2011
was completed, following the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in
Epidemiology guidelines. Publications were reviewed to identify those with both a
primary aim of identifying risk factors for all children or term-born children
with CP and a cohort or case-control study design. Studies were examined for
potential chance or systematic bias. The range of point estimates of relative
risk is reported. RESULTS:
From 21 articles meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria
and at low risk of bias, data from 6297 children with CP and 3 804 791 children
without CP were extracted. Ten risk factors for term-born infants were
statistically significant in each study: placental abnormalities, major and minor
birth defects, low birthweight, meconium aspiration, instrumental/emergency
Caesarean delivery, birth asphyxia, neonatal seizures, respiratory distress
syndrome, hypoglycaemia, and neonatal infections. Strategies for possible
prevention currently exist for three of these. INTERPRETATION: Ten consistent
risk factors have been identified, some with potential for prevention. Efforts to
prevent these risk factors to interrupt the pathway to CP should be extended.
CI - (c) The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (c) 2012 Mac Keith
Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS