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Bilateral spastic cerebral palsy--pathogenetic aspects from MRI
I Krägeloh-Mann1, B Hagberg, D Petersen
1Department of Neuropediatrics, University of Tübingen.
Insights
Periventricular leucomalacia is common in children with cerebral palsy, particularly premature infants. Findings suggest perinatal events impact brain development, even in full-term infants without birth asphyxia.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Radiology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Periventricular leucomalacia is a known brain injury associated with cerebral palsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of periventricular leucomalacia in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy.
- To identify risk factors associated with periventricular leucomalacia in this population.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to assess brain structure.
- The study included 38 children diagnosed with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy, aged 5 years and older.
Main Results:
- Twenty-nine out of 38 children (76%) showed signs of periventricular leucomalacia.
- Periventricular leucomalacia was prevalent in 20 out of 21 (95%) preterm infants.
- It was also observed in 9 out of 15 (60%) full-term infants without birth asphyxia.
Conclusions:
- Periventricular leucomalacia is a frequent finding in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy.
- Premature birth is a significant risk factor.
- Prenatal factors in the third trimester may contribute to brain injury in full-term infants without birth asphyxia.
Abstract:
Thirty eight children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy underwent MRI at the age of 5 years and more. Twenty nine showed correlates of periventricular leucomalacia, which were found especially in preterms (20 out of 21) but also in 9 of 15 fullterms without birth asphyxia. These findings suggest compromising events in the peri- and neonatal period especially in preterms and prenatal 3rd trimenon compromise in most of the fullterms without birth asphyxia.