Timing of administration of antenatal magnesium sulfate and umbilical cord blood magnesium levels in preterm babies

Abstract

Background: The optimum timing of administration of magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) in relation to delivery is not known. The general consensus is to achieve administration to the mother at least 4 hours prior to preterm delivery.

Objective: To investigate potential predictors of umbilical cord blood magnesium (Mg) concentrations, in particular, timing of antenatal MgSO₄ administration in relation to delivery.

Study design: A prospective observational study of infants delivered at less than 32 weeks’ gestational age. Cord bloods samples were collected at delivery and Mg levels analyzed.

Results: Of the 81 included cases, five received no antenatal MgSO₄, 65 received a 4 g bolus only, and 11 received a 4 g bolus and 1 g/hour infusion. The median time of bolus administration before delivery was 104 minutes (IQR: 57–215). The mean magnesium level was 0.934 mmol/L in the no antenatal MgSO₄ group, 1.018 mmol/L in the bolus only group, and 1.225 mmol/L in the bolus and infusion group (p < .05). In the bolus only group, the highest mean magnesium concentration (1.091 mmol/L) was achieved with administration 1–2 hours before delivery, but the difference was small and not statistically significant. On multiple regression analysis, lower birthweight Z scores and gestational age were independently associated with higher cord blood Mg levels.

Conclusions: In the bolus only group, the highest mean Mg levels were observed with administration 1–2 hours before delivery, but the findings were not statistically significant. Compared to the rest of the cohort, higher Mg levels were found when a bolus was followed by an infusion. Following a MgSO₄ bolus, some growth restricted extremely preterm babies may have higher Mg levels than would be otherwise expected.

Keywords:

• Magnesium sulfate
• cord blood
• cerebral palsy
• neuroprotection
• premature infants

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the children and their families who participated in this project.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.