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Impaired brain growth and neurodevelopment in preterm infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation

Sally Jary1, Agnese De Carli, Luca A Ramenghi

  • 1School of Clinical Science, University of Bristol, UK. sally.jary@bristol.ac.uk

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|March 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Brain imaging in preterm infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation can predict developmental outcomes. Volumetric MRI measurements at term correlate with motor and mental development at two years.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal neurology
  • Pediatric neuroimaging
  • Developmental pediatrics

Background:

  • Posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation in preterm infants poses a high risk of neurodevelopmental disabilities.
  • Predicting the severity of motor and mental impairments in these infants is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term-equivalent age and neurodevelopmental outcomes at two years in infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation.
  • To assess the utility of brain volume measurements in predicting disability severity.

Main Methods:

  • Cerebral MRI was performed at term-equivalent age in 25 preterm infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation.
  • Total and regional brain volumes were quantified using manual segmentation.
  • Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at two years using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II, with Developmental Quotients (DQ) calculated.

Main Results:

  • Total cerebral volume (excluding ventricles) showed a positive correlation with both Motor DQ (r = 0.7, p < 0.0001) and Mental DQ (r = 0.4, p = 0.02).
  • Cerebellar and thalamic volumes strongly correlated with Motor DQ.
  • Only 3 out of 16 infants with cerebral volume <336 cm³ were ambulant at two years.

Conclusions:

  • Brain growth is significantly impaired in infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation.
  • Volumetric MRI measurements of total cerebral and cerebellar volumes at term-equivalent age may aid in predicting the severity of neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Abstract

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