Aetiology and risk factors for cerebral palsy in children born at term

Abstract

Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of permanent and severe motor impairment in children. It is considered as a consequenceof damage to immature or developing brain. The aetiology in infants born at term is still mostly unknown and differs from the aetiologyin premature infants. We present aetiology and risk factors for CP in infants born at term and/or treated at Rijeka UniversityHospital Centre from 2002 to 2013. Infants born at term comprised about 40% of the children with CP, with the highest contributionof postnatal aetiology (47%), unlike other authors who cite prenatal aetiology as the leading one. The modern definition and classificationof CP may be the reason for this observation. Intrapartum aetiology was found in 18% and prenatal in 35% of cases. Inchildren with undetermined aetiology, most risk factors were found during birth, which may indicate intrapartum aetiology, andthus the increase in the percentage of intrapartum aetiology in the overall aetiology of CP. Aiming at possible prevention, additionalresearchinto CP aetiology in infants born at term is required using clear definition and classification of CP.Key words: CEREBRAL PALSY; postnatal care; prenatal care; risk factors