Neonatal outcomes of preterm infants born to preeclamptic mothers

Abstract

Objectives: Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine neonatal outcomes of premature infants born to preeclamptic mothers. Patients and Methods: Preterm infants <= 36 gestational age who were born to preeclamptic mothers and normotensive mothers were included in this study. Infant's data including demographic characteristics, neonatal morbidities and mortalities were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Hundred and forty infants born to preeclamptic mothers (study group) and 144 infants born to normotensive mothers (control group) were included. No statistical difference was found between mean gestational age, birth weight, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, and in terms of sex ratio. Cesarean delivery, small gestational age and neutropenia rates were found significantly higher in the study group. Other neonatal morbidities such as necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis were also found higher in the study group but it was not statistically significant. Hospitalization and mortality rates were similar in both groups. Conclusions: Preeclampsia was associated with increased cesarean delivery, small gestational age and neutropenia. There were no significant differences between other morbidities and mortality of two groups. We think that prematurity is the main risk factor of morbidity and mortality regardless of concomitant.