Intrapartum Asphyxia in Relation with the Risk for Developing of Cerebral Palsy

Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic (HI) injury is definied as: “Asphyxia of the umbilical blood supply to the human fetus occurring at 36 gestational weeks or later” [1-5]. Neonatal HI is synonymous with Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) occurring in the term infant (where ”term” is defined as 36 gestational weeks or later). The markers for neonatal HI include: 5-min Apgar score of less than 5; need for delivery room intubation or CPR; umbilical cord arterial pH less than 7.00 and abnormal neurological signs, such as hypotonic muscles or lack of sucking reflex. Electroencephalography (EEG) has also proved helpful as a predictor of clinical outcome [6,7].

The watershed zone is susceptible to injury in brain hypoperfusion. There are differences between term and preterm neonates regarding brain reaction to hypoxia, due to anatomical particularities. Preterm have imagerie cerebrale blood flow, the periventricular white matter is the most vulnerable to ischemic insult; autoregulation of cerebral blood flow is limited in preterm infants due to immature vasoregulatory mechanisms and underdevelopment of arteriolar smooth muscles. Hypoxic-ischemic insult results in germinal matrix hemorrhage from rupture of the periventricular capillaries and increased venous pressure dueto ischemic tissue reperfusion, cysts formation in periventricular area and finally, periventricular leukomalacia associated with ventriculomegali and thinning of corpus callosum [8].

In term infants, circulation and autoregulation of cerebral blood flow are similar to that of an adult. Ischemic and hemorrhagic injuries tend to follow similar patterns of those in adults. Infarcts in the parasagital watershed areas are the most common lesions and they involve territories between anterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery, or between middle cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery; both cortex and subcortical white matter being involved. Severe and diffuse hypoxia results in cerebral edema followed by cortical atrophy, ulegyria or multicystic encephalomalacia [8].

Hypoxic-ischemic cerebral imjury during the perinatal period is one of the most commonly recognized causes of severe, long-term neurologic deficits in children; it is often related to Cerebral Palsy (CP) [1]. Neonatal HIE occurs in 1.5 / 1000 of the live births [8]. After neonatal HIE, 5-10 % of surviving babies present persistent motor deficits, while 20 - 50 % have sensory or cognitive deficits that persist to adolescence [2,3,5,9,10].

A meta-analysis of seven studies, that included 386 infants, analysed the average incidence of mortality and morbidity: 5.9 % of patients across all studies died, 16.3 % presented neonatal seizures, while 17.2 % associated neurological deficits, 14.2 % of them later developed cerebral palsy [5,11].

Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The motor disorders of CP are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication, behaviour, by epilepsy and by secondary musculoskeletal problems” [12].

CP affects approximately 2-2.5 / 1000 live births in the Western world, and more children in the developing world. The sex ratio is 1.4:1 males to females. Perinatal HIE in term infants was evaluated to be respondable for 25 - 30 % of causes of CP in the 80’s [13]. In our days, birth asphyxia and complicated labour and delivery are responsable for 10 % of causes of CP [14].

We performed an analytical observational study in order to evaluate if HIE is one of the risk and prognosis factors for CP. Target population was formed by children with CP examined in our unit during the year 2008, with or without intrapartum asphyxia. From Demographics point of view, we evaluated children between 2 to 5 years of age, with same characteristics regarding sex, social and educational environment. Inclusion criteria: Children ages from 2 to 5 years with diagnosis of cerebral plasy, with same characteristics regarding sex, social and educational environment. Exclusion criteria: Children presenting disorders of movement and posture of other etiologies were excluded from group: Brain and spine cord malformations, brain tumors, neurometabolic disorder - suspected or confirmed, neurodegenerative disorder - suspected or confirmed, extrapyramidal disorders of unknown etiology.

Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel & Epi Info. We evaluated and quantified the relationship between risk factor and CP. Chi-square test was used: Any statistical hypothesis test wherein the sampling distribution of the test statistic is a chi-squared distribution when the null hypothesis is true. p-value ≤ 0.05 - indicates strong evidence against the null hypothesis, so you reject the null hypothesis.p-value > 0.05 - indicates weak evidence against the null hypothesis, so you fail to reject the null hypothesis. p-values very close to the cutoff (0.05) are considered to be marginal (could go either way). We used Risk Ratio (Relative Risk) = RR, with confidence intervals of 95 % (upper an lower limit); RR > 1.2 - meaning there’s a higher risk for children exposed to develop CP; RR < 0.8 - significantly lowers the risk of children exposed to develop CP.

We evaluated 110 children with CP, 63 girls (57 %) and 47 boys (43 %). Intrapartum asphyxia was documented in 43 of children (39 %). Cerebral palsy was spastic type in 76 % of children. According to the type of CP: 86 (78 %) were spastic type (tetraplegia - 29 children, diplegia - 30 children, paraplegia - 7 children and hemiplegia - 20 children), 4 with dystonic type and 20 mixte type. Prematurity was present in 34 (30 %) of children from our group. In 43 of the CP children intrapartum HI was documented, the type of CP was spastic type in the majority of them - 34 (14 of them with tetraplegia, 15 with diplegia and 5 with hemiplegia), while the rest of 9 children (21 %) had mixt form of CP.

Spasticity is defined as hypertonia with resistance „to externally imposed movement that increases with increasing speed of stretch and varies with the direction of joint movement” [15]. There are present brisk deep tendon reflexes, with or without clonus (considered pathological when it does not stop spontaneously), pathological signs as Babinski response and motor deficit that involve lower extremity flexors and upper extremity extensors [15]. There are often associated pathological postures, characterised by internal rotation and adduction of the hips, foot equinus, resulting in a particular ‘scissored’ position. In our group, spastic CP was 1,01 times more frequent in children with intrapartum asphyxia comparing with those non-exposed: RR = 1,01 (95 % CI 0,83-1,24); P = 0,85. No clinical relevance was identified.

Distonia is a movement disorder characterised by sustained involuntary movements and intermittent muscle contractions that induce repetitive movements and / or abnormal postures [15]. Clinical signs and symptoms are characterised by involuntary, uncontrolled, stereotyped movements. The primitive reflex patterns are preserved and predominate, and the muscle tone varies from hypotonia to rigidity. Dystonic CP is dominated by abnormal postures (they may appear hypokinetic) and hypertonia (muscle tone is fluctuating, but easily elicitable tone increase). Statistical analysis in this group, related to intrapartum Hypoxic-Ischemic revealed: RR = 0 (95 % CI 0,83 - 1,24).

p = 0,13; meaning it could be a possible clinical relevance, but larger sample is needed.

As the name says means a mixed CP form, associating spasticity and ataxia and / or dyskinesia. The child should be classified according to the dominant clinical feature. In our group, statistical analysis revealed that mixed CP is 1,27 times more frequent in children with intrapartum asphyxia comparing with those non-exposed: RR = 1,27 (95% CI 0,57-2,81); there is a posible clinical relevance, but larger sample is needed (p = 0,54).

Appears secondary to a focal cerebrovascular insult, most often in the territory of the middle cerebral artery. It was related to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, fetal bradycardia and heart decelerations, prolonged rupture of membranes, or prolonged second stage of labor, vacuum delivery, emergency Caesarian section, also Apgar score of < 7 at 5 minutes, maternal fever > 38°C and hypoglycemia have been identified as independent risk factors for perinatal stroke [16]. In our group, hemiplegia was 0.51 times more frequent in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia comparing with non-exposed,: RR = 0,51 (95 % CI 0,2-1,32), with posible clinical relevance but, larger sample is needed (p = 0,15).

It appears secondary to white matter lesions, Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) or Periventricular Haemorrhagic Infarction (PVH) are consequences of insults operating mainly between 23 - 30 weeks gestation. After the 24^th week of gestation, axon and dendrite formation appears, synaptogenesis and myelination and synaptic pruning and development of circuitry, process that continue up to the age of 2 years. Any injury at this age is associated with severe developmental disorders (Volpe cited by [17]. In our group, diplegia was 1.26 times more frequent in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia comparing with non-exposed; RR = 1,26 (95 % CI 0,67-2,36), with posible clinical relevance but, larger sample is needed (p = 0,46).

Statistical analysis revealed: RR = 0 (undefined) and p = 0,02, meaning there is clinical relevance for developing paraplegia in relation with intrapartum asphyxia.

Appears more often when the brain reaches maturity close to term, when grey matter is more sensitive to injury than white matter. Acute severe hypoxia results in selective neuronal necrosis that involved especially the basal ganglia, thalamus and bilateral; the extent of insults depends on the severity and duration of the hypoxic-ischemic event [18,19]. In our group, tetraplegia appeared 1,55 more frequently in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia comparing with non-exposed RR = 1,55 (95 % CI 0,82 - 2,93), with posible clinical relevance but larger sample is needed (p = 0,17)

Motor impairment is defined as: Partial or total loss of function of a body part, usually a limb or limbs that results in muscle weakness, poor stamina, lack of muscle control, or total body paralysis [20]. Impaired motor control (both gross and fine movements and oral coordination) represents one of the major symptoms of CP beside impaired coordonation and poor muscle tone, balance and posture [21]. From all 110 children with CP in our group, 8 were considered to have normal motor development, the rest of 102 had motor disability. Statistical analysis revealed that motor imparment was 1,13 times more frequent in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia comparing with non-exposed; RR = 1,13 (95 % CI 1,03 - 1,24), with clinical relevance between intrapartum asphyxia and the appearance of motor impairment (p = 0.01).

Was defined by WHO as: ”Significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information and to learn and apply new skills (impaired intelligence). This results in a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning), and begins before adulthood, with a lasting effect on development” (http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/mental-health/news/news/2010/15/childrens-right-to-family-life/definition-intellectual-disability); it represents associate condition in children with cerebral palsy, beside learning disabilities and epilepsy [21].

Analyzing statistical corelation between intrapartum aspyxia and association of cognitive imparment in our group of CP children, we found that cognitive imparment was 1,07 times more frequent in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia comparing with non-exposed; RR = 1,07 (95 % CI 0,85 - 1,33), but no clinical relevance was found (p = 0,55). 

According to DSM 5, intelectual disability (term that replace the old term of ”mental retardation”) is classified as: Mild (IQ = 50-55 to 70), moderate (IQ = 35-40 to 50-55), severe (IQ = 20-25 to 35-40) and profound (IQ below 20-25) [22].

Intelectual disability was present in 84 (76 %) of our CP children; 17 of them (15 %) presented mild intelectual disability, 18 (16 %) presented moderate intelectual disability, while the others 46 presented severe and profound intelectual disability. In the group of mild intelectual disability, statistical data showed that mild cognitive impairment was 1,38 times more frequent in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia comparing with non-exposed, RR = 1,38 (95 % CI 0,57 - 3,31), it could be posible clinical relevance but, larger sample is needed (p = 0,46). As about moderate intelectual impairment, statistical analysis revealed that it was 1,24 times more frequent in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia comparing with non-exposed; RR = 1,24 (95 % CI 0,53 - 2,9), there is posible clinical relevance, but larger sample is needed (p = 0,61).

Regarding the group of profound intelectual disability, it was 0,91 times more frequent in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia comparing with non-exposed; RR = 0,91 (95 % CI 0,57 - 1,44), no clinical relevance was found (p = 0,69).

Is another comorbidity of CP; 15 to 60 % of children with CP have been reported of having epilepsy [23]. It has been proved that hypoxic-ischemic insult induce neurotrophic factors release, with activation of multipotential progenitor cells in subventricular area and secondary proliferation and differentiation into neuronal and glial cells with migration and colonization of damaged cerebral structures [24]. Abnormal, excesive migration of neurons represents a high risk to develop epilepsy in these children. In our group, 53 children presented associated epilepsy (48 %). Epilepsy associated with CP was 1,39 times more frequent in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia, comparing to non-exposed; RR = 1,39 (95 % CI 0,95 - 2,03), there is a possible clinical relevance (p = 0.09) but larger sample is needed. Other behaviour disorders could be associated in children with CP, including psychiatric or behavioural problems such as autistic spectrum disorders, ADHD, sleep disturbances, mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Four children (4 %) in our group presented autistic spectrum features. Statistical analysis showed that autistic spectrum features were 1,55 times more frequent in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia compraring to non-exposed; RR = 1,55 (95 % CI 0,22 - 10,65), there is posible clinical relevance but larger sample is needed (p = 0,51).

Also, 12 children (11 %) presented hyperanxiety documented by psychological evaluation. Statistical analysis showed that anxiety is 0,14 times more frequent in children with CP and intrapartum asphyxia comparing to non-exposed; RR = 0,14 (95 % CI 0,01 - 1,05), there was definite clinical relevance (p = 0,01). 

Limitations of the study: As statistical analysis showed, larger samples are needed to identify relationship between intrapartum asphyxia and CP type and associated imparments. The observation was conducted when intrapartum and perinatal monitoring was still under development, observational studies in more recent years could show if the parameters remain the same or if they have improved.

It could not be established a straight relationship between intrapartum asphyxia and the risk of CP developing, that confirmes, once again the multifactorial etiology of CP. Our results showed that intrapartum asphyxia could have a role in developing dyskinetic and mixed forms of CP.

We identified an obvious relationship between intrapartum asphyxia and paraplegia (‘mild’) form of CP. 

Our results showed that intrapartum asphyxia could be involved in the development of associated impairments such as: Epilepsy, behavior disorders and cognitive impairment in children with CP, but larger groups and more recent observations are needed.

No financial support was received for this article.