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Obstet Gynecol. 1998 May;91(5 Pt 1):750-6. Routine ultrasound screening in pregnancy and the children's subsequent neurologic development.Kieler
H,Ahlsten G,Haglund
B,Salvesen K,Axelsson
O.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Objectives:
To test the null hypothesis of no association between
ultrasound exposure in early fetal life and impaired neurologic
development in childhood.
Methods:
Study of children age 8-9 years whose mothers participated
in a randomized controlled trial of ultrasound screening
during pregnancy in Sweden during 1985-1987. Of 4637
eligible singletons, 3265 (70%) were studied through a
questionnaire to their mothers. Assessment of neurologic
development was based on parents' report of their child's
speech and motor development. Behavioral disorders were
assessed by a ten-item parent scale. Analyses were performed
according to both assignment and ultrasound exposure. With a
sample size of 1600 children in each group, a two-sided
alpha of .05 and beta of .10, a risk ratio of less than 1.4
for the studied variables could not be detected.
Results:
Delayed speech development was reported by 2.9% in the
screening group compared with 2.4% in the nonscreening group
(odds ratio [OR] 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79,
1.88). Similar prevalences were found when analysis was
according to ultrasound exposure (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.78,
1.83). Delayed motor development was reported by 7.6% in the
screening group compared with 7.2% in the nonscreening group
(OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.81, 1.37). Corresponding figures for
ultrasound-exposed and -unexposed were 7.7% and 7.2%,
respectively (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.83, 1.40). There also were
no significant differences in behavioral disorders between
screened and unscreened children or between exposed and
unexposed children, respectively, according to parents'
ratings.
Conclusion:
No significant difference in impaired neurologic
development between ultrasound-exposed and -unexposed
children was found in this study.
   
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