Early and late postnatal identification of isolated lenticulostriate vasculopathy in preterm infants: associated findings.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence, possible etiologies, and neurodevelopmental outcome of premature infants (<35 weeks) with isolated lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV).


METHODS
In a retrospective case-control design, we reviewed the medical records of all premature infants who were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit between 1996 and 2000.


RESULTS
The prevalence of LSV was 4.6% (21 of 453). Patients with late LSV (detected after 10 days of age) had less exposure than controls to prenatal steroids [42.8% (6 of 14) vs. 92.8% (13 of 14), respectively; p<0.01], and prenatal antibiotics [42.8% (6 of 14) vs. 85.7% (12 of 14), respectively; p=0.01]. Fifty-seven percent (8 of 14) of patients with late LSV had a low Apgar score vs. 14.2% (2 of 14) of the control group (p=0.01). Patients with LSV also had more muscle tone abnormalities than controls at 6 months of age [33.3% (5 of 15) vs. 5.2% (1 of 19), respectively; p=0.03].


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with late LSV have less exposure to antenatal steroids and antibiotics, lower Apgar scores, and abnormal muscle tone at 6 months of age.
Hemachandra
A H
AH
Department of Pediatrics, The Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, OH, USA.
Oravec
D
D
Collin
M
M
Tafari
N
N
Mhanna
Maroun J
MJ
D020144:Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography