Corpus callosum size in relation to motor performance in 9- to 10-year-old children with neonatal encephalopathy.
Magnetic resonance imaging studies have contributed to recognize the patterns of cerebral injury related to neonatal encephalopathy (NE). We assessed whether a smaller corpus callosum (CC) explained the difference in motor performance between school-age children with NE and controls. Frontal, middle, and posterior areas of the CC were measured in 61 9-10-y-old children with NE and in 47 controls. Motor performance was determined using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC). Linear regression was used to assess whether differences in M-ABC between NE children and controls could be explained by CC size. The CC of 11/30 children with NE type I according to Sarnat (NE I) and 19/36 children with NE type II according to Sarnat (NE II) showed generalized or focal thinning, compared with 8/49 controls. Children with NE II had significantly smaller middle and posterior parts and total areas of the CC. Children with NE scored significantly worse on the M-ABC than controls. The reduction in size of the posterior part of the CC partly explained the mean differences on the M-ABC. Children with NE have poorer motor skills than controls, which is partly explained by a smaller size of the CC.
Department of Neonatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 EA, The Netherlands.
Britt J M
BJ
VAN Kooij
Mariëlle
M
VAN Handel
Cuno S P M
CS
Uiterwaal
Floris
F
Groenendaal
Rutger A J
RA
Nievelstein
Karin J
KJ
Rademaker
Marian J
MJ
Jongmans
Linda S
LS
DE Vries
D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009929:Organ Size; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors