title: Neurodevelopmental outcome of Malaysian very low birth weight infants: predictive value of cranial ultrasound appearances.
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the predictive value of cranial ultrasound scans done in the neonatal period for neurodevelopmental outcome of the Malaysian very low birthweight (VLBW, < 1500 grams) infants assessed at 12 months of corrected age. Of the 101 infants studied, 68 (67.3%) were neurodevelopmentally normal at one year of age, 18 (17.8%) had major and 15 (14.9%) had minor neurodevelopmental impairment. Neurodevelopmental outcome was normal in 66/88 (75.0%) infants who did not have severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) or periventricular intraparenchymal echo densities (PVE) in the first week of life, and in 57/73 (78.1%) with uncomplicated scans at discharge. In contrast, 11/13 (84.6%) with parenchymal echo densities or severe intraventricular bleed in the early neonatal period and 17/28 (60.7%) with complicated scans at discharge had adverse sequelae. There was a significant association between lesions seen on cranial ultrasound in the neonatal period and subsequent neurodevelopmental impairment. Late neonatal ultrasound scans appear to be a better predictor of short-term neurodevelopmental outcome than early scans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaasn Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: N Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Boo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chandran
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zulfiqar
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zamratol
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Teoh
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nyein
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lye
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008296:Malaysia; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography