Clinical features of and cardiotocographic findings for premature infants with antenatal periventricular leukomalacia.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the clinical features of and cardiotocographic findings for premature infants with antenatal periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).


METHODS
Antenatal PVL was judged to be present if a cyst greater than 3 mm in largest diameter was detected in the periventricular region by the 14th day of life on cranial ultrasonography. The clinical features of and cardiotocographic findings for 12 premature infants with antenatal PVL born within 1 year were compared with those of 12 infants chosen as control group matched in gestational age at birth from the premature infants without antenatal PVL born within the study period.


RESULTS
Abnormalities of the umbilical cord such as coiling, excessive torsion and membrane insertion were observed more frequently for infants with antenatal PVL (58.3%) than for control infants (16.7%) (P<0.05). Frequent moderate variable deceleration on the fetal cardiogram was also observed more frequently for infants with antenatal PVL (80.0%) than for control infants (27.3%) (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormalities of the umbilical cord and frequent moderate variable deceleration on fetal cardiotocogram appear to be causes of antenatal PVL in premature infants.
Ito
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
Kadowaki
K
K
Takahashi
H
H
Nagata
N
N
Makio
A
A
Terakawa
N
N
D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015148:Cardiotocography; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010923:Placenta Previa / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography
D002097:C-Reactive Protein