[Periventricular leukomalacia prevalence in premature newborn].
BACKGROUND
the periventricular leukomalacia (PLM) is considered a lesion of the central nervous system secondary to a hypoxic-ischemic insult, and affects more to premature than term neonates. However, the reported rates in the literature are between 2 % to 25 % in premature neonates. The objective was to determine the prevalence of PLM in premature neonates.


METHODS
a two year prospective screening program with transfontanel ultrasound in premature neonates weighing < 2000 g was carried out at 4 weeks of age.


RESULTS
from 38 355 consecutive deliveries 562 were premature neonates weighted = 2000 g who fulfilled inclusion criteria and all were studied with transfontanel ultrasonography; we found 36 (6.34 %) premature neonates with PLM. Of the 346 neonates weighing = 1500 g, 26 (7.5 %) had a positive examination for PLM. In the 1501 g to 2000 g group, 10 of 216 (4.6 %) had PLM. The PLM prevalence was higher in male (2:1). Neurological exam was normal at the time of study.


CONCLUSIONS
the PLM was present in 6.3 % of premature neonates weighing < 2000 g with 2 affected males for each female.
Hernández-Cabrera
Miguel Angel
MA
Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad 23, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
Flores-Santos
Roberto
R
García-Quintanilla
Juan Francisco
JF
Hernández-Herrera
Ricardo Jorge
RJ
Alcalá-Galván
Luis Gerardo
LG
Castillo-Martínez
Norma Elia
NE
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies