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Updated: May 8, 2026

Mouse Models of Periventricular Leukomalacia
Published on: May 18, 2010
Differences between periventricular hemorrhagic infarction and periventricular leukomalacia
Takeshi Tsuji1, Akihisa Okumura2, Hiroyuki Kidokoro3
1Department of Pediatrics, Okazaki City Hospital, Okazaki, Japan.
Insights
Periventricular hemorrhagic infarction (PVHI) in infants is linked to postnatal injury, while periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is associated with pre- or perinatal injury, differentiating their origins and clinical presentations.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Pediatric Neuroimaging
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- Periventricular hemorrhagic infarction (PVHI) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) are significant causes of brain injury in preterm infants.
- Differentiating between PVHI and PVL is crucial for understanding injury mechanisms and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the distinct clinical, ultrasonographic, and electroencephalographic (EEG) features differentiating infants with PVHI from those with PVL.
- To investigate the temporal relationship between EEG abnormalities and cranial ultrasonography findings in these two conditions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical data, serial cranial ultrasonography, and electroencephalogram (EEG) in 22 preterm infants with PVHI and 49 with PVL.
- Evaluation of acute and chronic EEG abnormalities in relation to ultrasonography findings from birth.
Main Results:
- Infants with PVHI had lower gestational age and birth weight compared to those with PVL.
- PVHI cases often showed normal EEGs initially, with abnormalities appearing after ultrasonography changes, suggesting postnatal injury.
- PVL cases more frequently exhibited acute EEG abnormalities early (days 1-2), indicating pre- or perinatal injury.
Conclusions:
- PVHI is presumed to result primarily from postnatal injury.
- PVL is presumed to result primarily from pre- or perinatal injury.
- The timing of EEG abnormalities relative to ultrasonography findings helps distinguish between PVHI and PVL.
Purpose:
To clarify the differences between infants with periventricular hemorrhagic infarction (PVHI) and those with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).
Methods:
We retrospectively evaluated the clinical features, ultrasonography, and electroencephalogram (EEG) findings in 22 preterm infants with PVHI and 49 with PVL. EEG and cranial ultrasonography were serially performed in all participants starting immediately after birth. Acute and chronic stage EEG abnormalities were evaluated separately.
Results:
Gestational age and birth weight were significantly lower in infants with PVHI than those with PVL. EEGs were normal in the majority of infants with PVHI on days 1-2. However, EEG abnormalities appeared after ultrasonography abnormalities. The majority of infants with PVL showed acute-stage EEG abnormalities on days 1-2. The rate of infants with acute-stage EEG abnormalities decreased with age, whereas the rate of infants with chronic-stage EEG abnormalities increased with age. Normal EEG before ultrasonography abnormalities was more common in infants with PVHI than in those with PVL. However, deterioration of acute-stage EEG abnormalities was more frequent in infants with PVHI than in those with PVL.
Conclusions:
PVHI was presumed to cause mostly postnatal injury, whereas PVL was presumed to cause mostly pre-or perinatal injury.
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