Early prediction of neurologic outcome after perinatal depression.
Evaluation is presented of whether or not a detailed neuromotor examination at 3 months of age could predict later neurologic abnormalities among term infants with perinatal depression. In a prospective cohort, infants were neurologically evaluated at 3 and 12 months. Infants were scored from 0 to 5 according to a new neuromotor scoring system. The neuromotor score at 3 months (NMS-3) was compared with the NMS at 12 months (NMS-12). Seventy-four infants were enrolled in the study; nine were lost to follow-up, and five died before reaching 1 year. Sixty infants were examined (neurologic abnormalities = 52%, normal = 48% at 1 year). The NMS-3 correlated strongly with the NMS-12 and the results of the 12-month neurologic examination. All infants with a NMS-3 of 5 had neurologic abnormalities at 1 year. Infants with neonatal seizures had a significantly increased risk of developmental abnormalities at 1 year. Eighteen infants exhibited transient abnormalities. Using a simple scoring system, the results of the early neurologic examinations correlated strongly with outcome among term infants with perinatal depression. A subgroup of infants had transient abnormalities. These findings suggest that in term high-risk infants, the 1-year neurologic outcome can be predicted at 3 months of age using these parameters.
Hajnal
B L
BL
Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, 94143, USA.
Sahebkar-Moghaddam
F
F
Barnwell
A J
AJ
Barkovich
A J
AJ
Ferriero
D M
DM
D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012640:Seizures