Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Poor postnatal head growth in very preterm infants is associated with impaired neurodevelopment outcome

Vera Neubauer1, Elke Griesmaier, Nicola Pehböck-Walser

  • 1Department of Paediatrics II, Neonatology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. Vera.Neubauer@i-med.ac.at

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|June 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Poor head growth in preterm infants is linked to developmental delays. Suboptimal head size at 3 months is particularly associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, highlighting the importance of monitoring head circumference.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Neurology

Background:

  • Head circumference (HC) is a key indicator of brain growth and development.
  • Preterm infants are at higher risk for neurodevelopmental impairments.
  • The relationship between suboptimal head size and neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between head circumference (HC) and neurodevelopmental outcome in very preterm infants.
  • To determine the relevance of suboptimal head size in this cohort.
  • To identify critical time points for HC assessment in relation to neurodevelopment.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of infants born before 32 weeks gestational age was studied.
  • Somatometric data, including HC, were collected at birth, discharge, and 3, 12, and 24 months.
  • Neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed at 12 and 24 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II.

Main Results:

  • Suboptimal head size, defined as HC more than 1 SD below the mean, increased over the first 24 months.
  • Both microcephaly and suboptimal head size were associated with impaired neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • HC at 3 months showed the strongest association with psychomotor and mental development.

Conclusions:

  • Poor postnatal head growth is prevalent in very preterm infants.
  • Microcephaly and suboptimal head size are linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Suboptimal head size at 3 months is a significant predictor of impaired neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Head growthNeurodevelopmentPostnatal growthPreterm

More Related Videos

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis06:19

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

Published on: January 7, 2018

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...