Birthweight and gestational age as predictors of outcome in preterm deliveries for severe pre-eclampsia.

The aim of this study was to compare the neonatal outcomes of babies with birthweights < 10th centile to those with birthweights > or = 10th centile with a gestational age of 28-34 weeks. This retrospective hospital-based study was performed at a tertiary referral centre. All women with early, severe pre-eclampsia, managed expectantly and who delivered a liveborn infant, over a 5-year period were included. The main outcome measures were birthweight within gestational age category, neonatal and infant deaths before discharge as well as neonatal intensive care. There were 136 and 190 babies in the < 10th and > or = 10th centile groups, respectively. No significant differences in outcome were noted in any of the gestational age categories. Thus within gestational age categories, birthweights < 10th centile did not predict a worse outcome in preterm deliveries for severe pre-eclampsia.