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Alf Meberg, Harald Broch

Etiology of cerebral palsy

Keywords: Cerebral infarction, cerebral palsy, etiological factors, neonatal encephalopathy, neonatal mortality, periventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia

Aims: To register the prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) and determine etiological factors for the condition.

Methods: Population based study with registration of CP-cases in children born during the 30-year period 1970–99. Cases with postneonatal etiology were excluded.

Results: 166 CP-cases were registered among 70 824 children, a prevalence of 2.3 per 1000 live born infants. The prevalence did not change significantly during the period. 66 (40%) were low birthweight infants (LBWIs; <2500 g), and 100 (60%) normal birthweight infants (NBWIs; ?2500 g). The origin was classified as prenatal in 37 (22%), perinatal/neonatal in 78 (47%) and unclassifiable in 51 (31%). In LBWIs 39/66 (59%) had a perinatal/neonatal etiology, most frequently intra- or periventricular hemorrhages (IVH/PVH) and/or periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) or cerebral infarctions (CI) (17; 44%). In NBWIs 39/100 (39%) had a perinatal etiology, most frequently hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (31; 79%).

Conclusions: In a substantial percentage of CP-cases perinatal/neonatal brain injury was classified as the cause. Among these IVH/PVH/PVL/CI dominated in LBWIs, while HIE dominated in NBWIs. Our data may point to preventability of a larger part of CP than earlier suggested.

Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 32, 09/2004
Pages: 434 - 439

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