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Brain growth in preterm infants is affected by the degree of growth restriction at birth

Vasileios Xydis1, Aikaterini Drougia, Vasileios Giapros

  • 1Radiology Department and, University Hospital of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, Ioannina 451 10, Greece.

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|November 8, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants born small for gestational age (SGA) with very low birth weight show distinct brain structure differences by 5 months corrected age. These findings in brain development may impact neurocognitive outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal neuroscience
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Pediatric neuroradiology

Background:

  • Brain structural development in preterm infants, especially those born small for gestational age (SGA), is not well-documented beyond the neonatal period.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers detailed insights into brain development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate structural brain development in preterm infants born SGA using MRI at 5 months corrected age.
  • To compare brain structural measurements between SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective MRI examination of 205 preterm infants (139 AGA, 66 SGA) at 5 months corrected age.
  • SGA infants were categorized by birth weight (BW): <3rd percentile (n=33) and 3rd-10th percentile (n=33).
  • Quantified brain volume, ventricular volume, cerebellar volume, vermis area, corpus callosum area, and pituitary, mesencephalon, and pons height.

Main Results:

  • Infants born SGA with BW <3rd percentile exhibited smaller brain volumes, irrespective of other perinatal factors.
  • Chronic lung disease independently predicted lower brain volume.
  • Pituitary height was greater in SGA infants (<3rd percentile) compared to AGA infants.
  • Corpus callosum area was reduced in SGA infants (<3rd percentile) versus SGA infants (3rd-10th percentile).

Conclusions:

  • Preterm infants born SGA with very low birth weight (<3rd percentile) demonstrate significant differences in brain structural measurements at 5 months corrected age compared to preterm AGA infants.
  • These structural brain variations may have implications for future neurocognitive development in this vulnerable population.
Abstract

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