Does placental inflammation relate to brain lesions and volume in preterm infants?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between histologic inflammation of placenta and brain findings in ultrasound examinations and regional brain volumes in magnetic resonance imaging in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) or in very preterm infants.


METHODS
VLBW or very preterm infants (n = 121) were categorized into 3 groups according to the most pathologic brain finding on ultrasound examinations until term. The brain magnetic resonance imaging performed at term was analyzed for regional brain volumes. The placentas were analyzed for histologic inflammatory findings.


RESULTS
Histologic chorioamnionitis on the fetal side correlated to brain lesions in univariate but not in multivariate analyses. Low gestational age was the only significant risk factor for brain lesions in multivariate analysis (P < .0001). Histologic chorioamnionitis was not associated with brain volumes in multivariate analyses. Female sex, low gestational age, and low birth weight z score correlated to smaller volumes in total brain tissue (P = .001, P = .0002, P < .0001, respectively) and cerebellum (P = .047, P = .003, P = .001, respectively). In addition, low gestational age and low-birth-weight z score correlated to a smaller combined volume of basal ganglia and thalami (P = .0002).


CONCLUSIONS
Placental inflammation does not appear to correlate to brain lesions or smaller regional brain volumes in VLBW or in very preterm infants at term age.
Reiman
Milla
M
Turku University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Turku, Finland.
Kujari
Harry
H
Maunu
Jonna
J
Parkkola
Riitta
R
Rikalainen
Hellevi
H
Lapinleimu
Helena
H
Lehtonen
Liisa
L
Haataja
Leena
L
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial