Hemodynamics of the posterior cerebral arteries in neonates with periventricular leukomalacia.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cerebral blood flow of the posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs) in neonates in relation to the onset of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).


METHODS
Among 57 low-birth-weight neonates studied, 7 were diagnosed with PVL with cyst formation on sonography and MRI. The mean cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) was measured in all the neonates by Doppler sonography through the posterior fontanel separately in the right and left PCA at days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, and 70 following birth.


RESULTS
In the 7 neonates with PVL the mean CBFV in the right PCA was significantly lower than that in neonates without PVL at days 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, and 70; the mean CBFV in the left PCA of neonates with PVL was significantly lower than that in those without PVL at days 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, and 70. CBFV measured in neonates without PVL exhibited a gradual increase postnatally. In contrast, CBFV values for neonates with PVL plateaued after day 5 or 7.


CONCLUSIONS
The serial measurement of PCA CBFV postnatally may prove useful as a predictor of the development of PVL.
Fukuda
Sumio
S
Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology and Congenital Disorders, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Kawasumi, Mizuho, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan.
Kuwabara
Satomi
S
Yasuda
Mari
M
Mizuno
Keisuke
K
Kato
Takenori
T
Sugiura
Takahiro
T
Hussein
Mohamed Hamed
MH
Kato
Ineko
I
Fujimoto
Shinji
S
Sobajima
Hisanori
H
Togari
Hajime
H
D001927:Brain Diseases; D003560:Cysts; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D020769:Posterior Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014463:Ultrasonography