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Published on: November 20, 2015
Long-term outcome of preterm infants and the role of neuroimaging
1Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208064, New Haven, CT 06520-8064, USA.
Insights
Preterm birth poses significant risks for infant neurodevelopmental disabilities. Early identification of outcome markers and understanding brain injury through advanced neuroimaging are crucial for improving long-term health in premature infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Preterm birth is a major public health concern with high rates of neurodevelopmental disabilities in neonates.
- Increasing survival rates of preterm infants necessitate a focus on preventing adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Identifying early markers of outcome is a critical challenge for neonatologists and neurologists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current trends in preterm birth, including prevalence, mortality, and morbidity.
- To present the status of outcome data for cognitive and neurosensory dysfunctions in preterm infants.
- To explore the role of new neuroimaging techniques in understanding brain injury in preterm neonates.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on preterm birth outcomes.
- Analysis of prevalence, mortality, and morbidity data.
- Examination of advancements in neuroimaging modalities and analysis tools.
Main Results:
- Preterm birth is associated with significant risks for neurodevelopmental disabilities.
- Cognitive and neurosensory dysfunctions are common outcomes in preterm infants.
- Neuroimaging provides microstructural evidence of brain injury in the preterm brain.
Conclusions:
- Understanding and preventing adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes is a key imperative in perinatal medicine.
- Early identification of outcome markers is essential for managing preterm infants.
- Advanced neuroimaging aids in comprehending the neurologic sequelae of preterm birth.
Abstract:
Preterm birth has been defined as one of the major public health problems of this decade, preterm neonates being at high risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities. As preterm survival rates increase, the next great imperative for perinatal medicine is to understand and prevent the serious adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm birth. The challenge for neonatologists and neurologists alike is identifying early markers of outcome in the prematurely born. This article reviews current trends in prevalence, mortality, and morbidity, and the present status of outcome data for cognitive and neurosensory neurodevelopmental dysfunctions in preterm infants. New neuroimaging modalities and analysis tools are contributing to the understanding of neurologic sequelae of preterm birth by providing microstructural evidence of injury sustained by the preterm brain.
