The blink reflex in neonates with a subsequent poor outcome.
We examined maturational changes in the electrical blink reflex in 11 handicapped children, i.e., 4 cases of developmental delay, 4 of cerebral palsy, 2 of congenital hydrocephalus, and 1 of congenital cytomegalovirus infection. The developmental delay and cerebral palsy cases were all born at 25-36 weeks' gestation. In all cases, prolonged latency, low amplitude, or the absence of the late component of the blink reflex was observed in the follow-up study. These results indicate that prematurity and some congenital impairment mainly influence the maturation of the long-loop reflex arc in the blink reflex.
Hatanaka
T
T
Department of Pediatrics, Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Owa
K
K
Hayashi
N
N
Yoshijiama
S
S
Suehiro
Y
Y
Shinomiya
K
K
Yasuhara
A
A
D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology