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

Background: Though antenatal magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) is widely used for fetal neuroprotection, suspicions about the long-term neuroprotection of antenatal MgSO₄ 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 MgSO₄ group (infants who were exposed to MgSO₄ for any purpose) or neuroprotection group (infants who were exposed to MgSO₄ for fetal neuroprotection) compared with the control group (infants who were not exposed to MgSO₄). The z-scores of weight, height, and head circumference did not increase in the MgSO₄ group or neuroprotection group compared with the control group. Conclusion: Antenatal MgSO₄ including MgSO₄ for neuroprotection did not have beneficial effects on long-term neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes.