Using of magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection in patients presenting by intrapartum fetal distress at term: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Background: labour is a stressful event for the fetus but is well tolerated by most fetuses. However, in some infants stress of labour in terms of metabolic acidosis can lead to Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy [HIE]. HIE around term remains a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity with lifelong chronic disabilities. Such insults are not limited to high risk pregnancies but can also occur in about 50% of low risk pregnancies. On current evidence, it is estimated that in about 10 of brain damaged infants, the cause is hypoxia during labour.There has been considerable interest in magnesium sulfate [MgSO4] because magnesium alleviates excitotoxic damage by binding to the magnesium site on the NMDA [N-methyl-Daspartate] glutamate channel