Periventricular leukomalacia is decreasing in Japan.
Periventricular leukomalacia is recognized as the leading cause of cerebral palsy in preterm infants. To clarify the prevalence of periventricular leukomalacia and cerebral palsy in Japan, a nationwide survey was performed. The prevalence of periventricular leukomalacia in the group of surviving preterm infants of gestational ages less than 33 weeks born in 2007 was 2.7% (78/2883) on ultrasound diagnosis, and 3.3% (92/2824) on magnetic resonance imaging. The prevalence of cerebral palsy was 4.3% (125/2883) on clinical diagnosis. In our previous study, the prevalences of periventricular leukomalacia in 1990-1991, 1993-1994, 1996, and 1999 were 4.8%, 4.9%, 4.9%, and 5.3% on ultrasound, and 7.9%, 7.7%, 6.9%, and 7.3% on magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. The prevalence of periventricular leukomalacia has decreased significantly in Japan.
Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan. tokio@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Tokio
T
Sugiura
Tatenobu
T
Goto
Hiroko
H
Ueda
Koichi
K
Ito
Hiroki
H
Kakita
Rika
R
Nagasaki
Keisuke
K
Mizuno
Satoshi
S
Suzuki
Ineko
I
Kato
Hajime
H
Togari
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence