Intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm newborns: risk factors and results from a University Hospital in Istanbul, 8 years after.
BACKGROUND
In this prospective study, the authors aimed to show intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) incidence of premature newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, and its risk factors, and they tried to compare these results with those they reported 8 years ago.


METHODS
A total of 103 premature newborns, hospitalized between August 2003 and January 2005 with a gestational age equal or less than 33 weeks, were included in this study. IVH rates and changes in the incidences of risk factors were compared with those that had been reported between January 1995 and January 1997.


RESULTS
Mean birthweight of this population was 1400 +/- 380 g (min, 550 g; max, 2000 g) and gestational age 30.3 +/- 2.1 weeks (min, 25 weeks; max, 33 weeks). IVH was diagnosed in 13 (13%) of them. IVH rates were 37, 10 and 5% for birthweight groups 501-1000, 1001-1500 and 1501-200 g, respectively. Statistically significant risk factors were found to be birthweight, gestational age, clinical risk index for babies score >5, mechanical ventilation, sepsis and hypotension. Maternal corticosteroid administration was found to be significantly protective. IVH rates and incidences of risk factors in this study were decreased compared to those reported 8 years ago.


CONCLUSIONS
In developing countries, where well equipped Neonatal Intensive Care Units are limited, prevention of prematurity, better prenatal care and maternal corticosteroid administration become essential points for the prevention of IVH and its neurological consequences.
Vural
Mehmet
M
Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology Unit, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. vuralm@istanbul.edu.tr
Yilmaz
Ikbale
I
Ilikkan
Barbaros
B
Erginoz
Ethem
E
Perk
Yildiz
Y
D001724:Birth Weight; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D014505:Urban Population