title: General movements and magnetic resonance imaging in the prediction of neuromotor outcome in children born extremely preterm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extremely preterm (EPT) birth is a major risk factor for brain injury and neurodevelopmental impairment. Reliable tools for early prediction of outcome are warranted.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the predictive value of general movements (GMs) at "fidgety age" for neurological outcome at age 30 months in EPT infants, both in comparison and in combination with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term equivalent age (TEA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three infants born <27 weeks of gestation were included prospectively. MRI was performed at TEA and images were evaluated for white and grey matter abnormalities. GMs were assessed at age 3 months corrected ("fidgety age").
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuromotor outcome was assessed at age 30months corrected. Children were classified as having a normal neurological status, unspecific signs, or cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abnormal GMs were a common finding, seen in 32% (17/53) of infants. Of these, six infants (11%) had definitely abnormal GMs. Four infants (8%) had a diagnosis of CP at follow up. Definitely abnormal GMs were significantly associated to CP at 30 months (Fisher's Exact test p=0.03, sensitivity 50%, specificity 92%). Moderate-severe white matter abnormalities on MRI were more strongly associated with CP (Fisher's Exact test p<0.001, sensitivity 100%, specificity 98%) than GMs. Combining GMs with MRI-findings at TEA increased the predictive specificity to 100% (Fisher's Exact test, p=0.005), whereas sensitivity remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of definitely abnormal GMs was predictive of CP: prediction was significantly enhanced when the GMs assessment was combined with findings from MRI obtained at TEA.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. beatrice.skiold@karolinska.se
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skiöld
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Ann-Christin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Eliasson
authors.forename: Ulrika
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Adén
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vollmer
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies