Clinical characterization and long-term prognosis of neurological development in preterm infants with late-onset...

To characterize the risk factors for late-onset circulatory collapse (LCC) in preterm infants responsive to corticosteroid therapy and evaluate the long-term neurological prognosis.

A retrospective case-control study for preterm infants (≤32 weeks' gestation) admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit from 1994 through 2002.

Sixty-five infants (11%) were diagnosed with LCC. Infants with a shorter gestation and lower birth weight had a higher incidence of LCC. LCC infants had a significantly lower 1-min Apgar score, significantly higher incidence of severe intraventricular hemorrhage, chronic lung disease, and postnatal periventricular leukomalacia, and significantly longer duration of ventilation use, oxygen use, and hospital stay. Somatic growth at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age was poorer in infants with LCC than without LCC (controls). LCC infants were significantly more likely than controls to have cerebral palsy at 3 years.

LCC is associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Prevention of LCC can lead to improved neurological prognoses.