The evolutionary change of flash visual evoked potentials in preterm infants with periventricular leukomalacia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate flash visual evoked potential (VEP) findings and their chronological changes in preterm infants with cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) during the early neonatal period.


METHODS
The subjects of this study were 14 preterm infants with cystic PVL. The patients underwent serial cranial ultrasonography and diagnosed as having cystic PVL. Flash VEPs were diagnosed at least twice within the first 3 weeks of life.


RESULTS
All infants had at least one or more flash VEP abnormalities. The most common finding was 'absent VEP', which was seen in 13 infants (93%). 'Delayed latency' was seen in two infants and 'abnormal waveform' was seen in one infant. Concerning the chronological changes, all records were abnormal in 4 infants, and the other 10 had transient normal VEP findings. Among them, flash VEPs changed from normal to abnormal within 10 days after birth in most cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Almost all infants with cystic PVL had abnormal flash VEPs within the first 3 weeks of life, but chronological changes of flash VEP findings were seen during the period.


CONCLUSIONS
This manuscript may be useful as a reference to the flash VEPs in preterm infants with cystic PVL.
Kato
Toru
T
Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan. torukato@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Okumura
Akihisa
A
Hayakawa
Fumio
F
Kuno
Kuniyoshi
K
Watanabe
Kazuyoshi
K
D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods