title: Cerebellar Microstructural Organization is Altered by Complications of Premature Birth: A Case-Control Study.
abstract: To compare regional cerebellar microstructure, as measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), between preterm infants at term-equivalent age and healthy term-born control neonates, and to explore associations between DTI findings and clinical risk factors.
  
  
  
  In this case-control study, DTI studies were performed in 73 premature infants born ≤32 weeks and ≤1500 g birth weight and 73 full-term-born controls from healthy pregnancies. Using a region of interest approach, fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were extracted in 7 cerebellar regions including the anterior vermis, the right/left superior cerebellar peduncles, the middle cerebellar peduncle, and the dentate nuclei. To validate further our DTI measurements, we measured FA and MD in the genu of the corpus callosum and splenium. FA and MD were compared between groups using analyses of multiple linear regression models.
  
  
  
  Preterm infants at term-equivalent age presented with higher FA in the dentate nuclei (<.001) and middle cerebellar peduncle (.028), and lower MD in the vermis (.023) compared with controls. Conversely, preterm infants showed reduced FA and increased MD in both the genu of the corpus callosum and splenium (P < .001). Independent risk factors associated with altered FA and MD in the cerebellum included low Apgar score, supratentorial injury, compromised cardiorespiratory function, and surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis and patent ductus arteriosus.
  
  
  
  This DTI study provides evidence that complications of premature birth are associated with altered cerebellar microstructural organization when compared with term-born control infants.
authors.affiliation: Montreal Children's Hospital, Division of Pediatric Neurology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brossard-Racine
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Neuroradiology, Division of Pediatric Radiology, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poretti
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murnick
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC; Developing Brain Research Laboratory, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Marine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouyssi-Kobar
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Science, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCarter
authors.affiliation: Fetal and Transitional Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Adre J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: du Plessis
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC; Developing Brain Research Laboratory, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC. Electronic address: climpero@childrensnational.org.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Limperopoulos
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D047928:Premature Birth; D047929:Term Birth
keywords: cerebellar injury; cerebellum; microstructure; prematurity