Main outcome measure: The primary outcome measure was moderate to severe CP.

Conclusions: Comprehension of spoken language differs between MRI patterns of severe CP.

Background and aims: To identify relations between brain abnormalities and spoken language comprehension, MRI characteristics of 80 nonspeaking children with severe CP were examined.

Results: The crude rates of moderate to severe CP in the MgSO 4 group and the placebo group were 2.0% and 3.3%, respectively.