Cochrane · systematic review · CD004661
Magnesium sulphate for women at risk of preterm birth for neuroprotection of the fetus
Shepherd, ES, Goldsmith, S, Doyle, LW, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2024 · Cochrane Library
Pregnancy and ChildbirthAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
18
current version
GRADE rated
16
No studies
2
Included studies
NR
No studies 2 · 11.1%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 1 · 5.6%Low 6 · 33.3%Moderate 7 · 38.9%High 2 · 11.1%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Magnesium sulphate versus placebo (outcomes for infants/children, up to 2 years' corrected age)
Population: women at risk of preterm birth (< 34 weeks' gestation)
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Death (fetal, neonatal, or later (up to 2 years' corrected age))** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.96 [0.82, 1.13] | 6 studies · 6759 participants | Moderate Downgraded: imprecision |
Cerebral palsy (up to 2 years' corrected age)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.71 [0.57, 0.89] | 6 studies · 6107 participants | High |
Death or cerebral palsy (up to 2 years' corrected age)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.87 [0.77, 0.98] | 6 studies · 6481 participants | High |
Major neurodevelopmental disability (up to 2 years' corrected age)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 1.09 [0.83, 1.44] | 1 study · 987 participants | Moderate Downgraded: imprecision |
Death or major neurodevelopmental disability (up to 2 years' corrected age)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.95 [0.85, 1.07] | 3 studies · 4279 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Severe intraventricular haemorrhage (grade 3 or 4) (newborn/infant)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.76 [0.6, 0.98] | 5 studies · 5885 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias |
Chronic lung disease/bronchopulmonary dysplasia (newborn/infant)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.92 [0.77, 1.1] | 5 studies · 6689 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency |
Magnesium sulphate versus placebo (outcomes for infants/children, up to school age)
Population: women at risk of preterm birth (< 34 weeks' gestation)
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Death (fetal, neonatal, or later (up to school age))** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.82 [0.66, 1.02] | 2 studies · 1758 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Cerebral palsy (school age)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.99 [0.69, 1.41] | 2 studies · 1038 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Death or cerebral palsy (up to school age)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.9 [0.67, 1.2] | 1 study · 503 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Major neurodevelopmental disability (school age)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.92 [0.53, 1.62] | 2 studies · 940 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Death or major neurodevelopmental disability (up to school age)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.81 [0.59, 1.12] | 1 study · 503 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Magnesium sulphate versus placebo (outcomes for women)
Population: women at risk of preterm birth (< 34 weeks' gestation)
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Severe maternal outcome potentially related to treatment (death, respiratory arrest, or cardiac arrest)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.32 [0.01, 7.92] | 4 studies · 5300 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision |
Adverse effects severe enough to stop treatment** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 3.21 [1.88, 5.48] | 3 studies · 4736 participants | Moderate Downgraded: inconsistency |
Mode of birth (caesarean section)** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.96 [0.91, 1.02] | 5 studies · 5861 participants | Moderate Downgraded: inconsistency |
Postpartum haemorrhage** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | RR 0.94 [0.8, 1.09] | 2 studies · 2495 participants | Moderate Downgraded: imprecision |
Breastfeeding at hospital discharge** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Women’s views of treatment** Magnesium sulphate vs placebo (outcomes | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |