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Published on: November 20, 2015
Does perinatal asphyxia contribute to neurological dysfunction in preterm infants?
Patricia A M van Iersel1, Saskia C M Bakker, Arnold J H Jonker
1Gelre Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. pat.iersel@planet.nl
Insights
Perinatal asphyxia did not increase neurodevelopmental risks in preterm infants. However, respiratory issues were linked to periventricular leukomalacia and poor neurological outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm infants face higher risks of neurodevelopmental disorders.
- The specific impact of perinatal asphyxia on these risks remains debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess perinatal asphyxia's role in neurological dysfunction in preterm infants.
- To determine the association between perinatal asphyxia and cerebral palsy development.
Main Methods:
- Studied 17 preterm infants with perinatal asphyxia and 34 matched controls.
- Assessed neuromotor outcomes using general movements (GM) assessments at multiple time points.
- Followed infants until 18 months corrected age for cerebral palsy diagnosis.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in GM quality between infants with and without asphyxia.
- Abnormal GMs linked to respiratory problems, periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), but not perinatal asphyxia.
- Perinatal asphyxia was not associated with cerebral palsy (CP) development.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal asphyxia does not elevate neurodevelopmental risks, including CP, in preterm infants.
- Neonatal respiratory problems correlate with PVL and adverse neurological outcomes.
- CP development is linked to PVL and abnormal fidgety GM.
Background:
Children born preterm are known to be at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. The role of perinatal asphyxia in this increased risk is still a matter of debate.
Aim:
To analyze the contribution of perinatal asphyxia in a population of preterm infants admitted to a secondary paediatric setting to neurological dysfunction in the first months after birth and to the development of cerebral palsy.
Methods:
17 preterm infants with perinatal asphyxia born before 35 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and 34 carefully matched preterm controls without asphyxia were studied. Neuromotor outcome was examined by means of three assessments of the quality of general movements (GM) at "preterm" (around 34 weeks PMA), "writhing" (around term age) and "fidgety" GM age (around 3 months post term). Follow-up until at least 18 months corrected age focused on the presence of cerebral palsy (CP).
Results:
GM-quality of infants with asphyxia and of those without did not differ. Multivariate analysis revealed that abnormal GMs at "preterm" age were associated with respiratory problems, those at "writhing" age with none of the assessed risk factors, and those at "fidgety" age with the severity of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) on neonatal ultrasound scan. Perinatal asphyxia was not associated with the development of CP. CP was associated with PVL and the presence of abnormal GMs at "fidgety" age.
Conclusion:
Perinatal asphyxia in preterm infants is not associated with an increased risk for neurodevelopmental problems including CP. Respiratory problems during the neonatal period are associated with PVL and adverse neurological outcome.
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