THE CHANGING PANORAMA OF CEREBRAL PALSY IN SWEDEN 1954—1970 III.

Abstract

From record data derived from an unselected series of 560 Swedish cases of cerebral palsy, born in 1954-70, the significance of prenatal factors associated with materno-fetal vascular insufficiency causing fetal deprivation of supply (FDS) was investigated. Cerebral palsied children had, on an average, retarded intrauterine growth when compared with a normal population. The incidence of bleeding during pregnancy, maternal toxemia and multiple pregnancies were significantly increased (P < 0.0001). The incidence of the prenatal factors in question remained unchanged through the years 1954-70. An additive interplay between factors of FDS and asphyxia/cerebral hemorrhage was revealed. FDS apparently plays a major role in the pathogenesis of cerebral palsy today, particularly among the multihandicapped.