title: Correlation of grading and duration of periventricular echodensities with neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transient periventricular echodensities (PVE) in preterm infants affect neurodevelopmental outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To correlate the duration and grading of PVE with neurodevelopmental outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, single-centre cohort study of infants with PVE diagnosed by ultrasonography from 1995 to 2000 with blinded grading and recognition of duration of PVE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 72 infants (median gestational age 32 weeks, median birth weight 1,668 g) were diagnosed as having PVE. Minor neurological abnormalities were diagnosed in seven (10%), cerebral palsy in six (8%), developmental delay in seven (10%), and mild mental retardation in two (3%) of the infants. Differences regarding adverse outcome were not significant between infants with severity grade 1 compared to severity grade 2 (16% and 22%, respectively). There was a significant increase in adverse neurodevelopmental outcome with increasing duration of PVE. Of 33 infants with duration of PVE<7 days, 1 (3%) had an adverse neurodevelopmental outcome, compared to 6 (24%) of 25 infants with a duration of PVE of 7-14 days, and 6 (43%) of 14 infants with a duration of PVE>14 days (P<0.002, RR 7.920, 95% CI 1.017-61.661; P<0.001, RR 14.143, 95% CI 1.871-106.895, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The duration, but not the grading, of transient PVE was significantly correlated with neurodevelopmental outcome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 30, 8036, Graz, Austria. bernhard.resch@meduni-graz.at
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jammernegg
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perl
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riccabona
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: Wilhelm D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D004453:Echoencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies