Brain imaging findings in very preterm infants throughout the neonatal period: part II. Relation with perinatal clinical data.
This study describes the relation between frequent and clinically relevant brain imaging findings in very preterm infants (GA<32 weeks), assessed with sequential cranial ultrasonography throughout the neonatal period and MRI around term age, and several potential perinatal risk factors. For ultrasound findings during admission the following independent risk factors were identified: male gender for periventricular echodensities and intraventricular haemorrhage, postnatal corticosteroid treatment for cystic white matter lesions, and lower gestational age for post-haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation. For MRI findings around term age, including punctate white matter lesions, ventricular dilatation, decreased cortical complexity, and diffuse and excessive high signal intensity, no independent risk factors were found. In very preterm infants, the risk factors for frequently found changes on cranial ultrasound have largely remained unchanged over the last decades, while no risk factors could be identified for subtle and diffuse white matter injury as seen on MRI around term age.
Leijser
Lara M
LM
Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, J6-S, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. L.M.Leijser@lumc.nl
Steggerda
Sylke J
SJ
de Bruïne
Francisca T
FT
van der Grond
Jeroen
J
Walther
Frans J
FJ
van Wezel-Meijler
Gerda
G
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001724:Birth Weight; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004453:Echoencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones