title: Qualitative brain MRI at term and cognitive outcomes at 9 years after very preterm birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A prospective study was performed to assess the relationship between the appearance of cerebral MRI at term and the cognitive functioning at 9 years old in very preterm born infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six very preterm born infants (birth weight <1500 g or gestational age ≤32 weeks) obtained cerebral MRI at term-equivalent period, which was assessed by using established composite scores for the white and gray matter; cognitive outcomes at 9 years old were assessed in 60 subjects by using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mildly low scores on the different IQ indices (<85) were observed in 23.3% (verbal IQ), 41.7% (performance IQ), and 30.0% (full-scale IQ) of the cohort, whereas moderately low scores (<70) were noted in 3.3% (verbal IQ), 11.7% (performance IQ), and 11.7% (full-scale IQ); cerebral palsy was diagnosed in 10.0%, whereas special assistance at school was required in 56.7%. Abnormal white matter appearances predicted mildly low verbal, performance, and full-scale IQs; moderately low performance and full-scale IQs; cerebral palsy; and the requirement for special assistance at school. Abnormal white matter appearances predicted mild cognitive impairment even after the adjustment for known clinical risk factors. In contrast, abnormal gray matter appearances did not predict any of the outcome measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a cohort of very preterm born infants, abnormal white matter appearance on term MRI showed consistent associations with cognitive impairments at 9 years old, further supporting the benefit of obtaining term MRI for very preterm born infants.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Developmental & Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011 Japan.
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hizume
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kihara
authors.forename: Sachio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takashima
authors.forename: Toyojiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuishi
authors.forename: Osuke
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Iwata
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004519:Education, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000523:psychology*; D007360:Intelligence; D007564:Japan; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D056784:Leukoencephalopathies / Q000175:diagnosis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data