Moderate and late preterm birth: effect on brain size and maturation at term-equivalent age

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Jennifer M Walsh1, Lex W Doyle, Peter J Anderson

  • 1From the Departments of Newborn Research and Neonatal Services (J.M.W., L.W.D., J.L.Y.C.), Royal Women's Hospital, 20 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia (L.W.D., P.J.A., K.J.L., J.L.Y.C.); and Department of Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia (J.M.W., L.W.D., P.J.A., K.J.L., J.L.Y.C.).

Radiology
|June 11, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Moderate and late preterm infants show smaller brain size, delayed myelination, and immature gyral development compared to term-born infants. These brain differences may contribute to long-term neurodevelopmental issues in preterm children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pediatric Imaging

Background:

  • Moderate and late preterm (MLPT) birth is associated with increased risk of neurodevelopmental deficits.
  • Understanding early brain development in MLPT infants is crucial for identifying potential causes of these deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare brain structure, myelination, gyral development, and injury evidence between MLPT and term-born infants at term-equivalent age.
  • To investigate the impact of preterm birth on key aspects of brain maturation.

Main Methods:

  • 3-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed on 199 MLPT and 50 term-born infants at 38-44 weeks corrected gestational age.
  • T1- and T2-weighted MR images were analyzed for brain structure size, myelination, gyral maturation, and abnormalities by a blinded assessor.
  • Statistical comparisons used linear and logistic regression, with reliability assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients.

Main Results:

  • MLPT infants exhibited smaller brain biparietal diameter, corpus callosum, basal ganglia, thalami, and cerebellum compared to term infants.
  • Less developed myelination of the posterior limb of the internal capsule and delayed gyral maturation were observed in MLPT infants.
  • Extracerebral space was larger in MLPT infants; signal intensity abnormalities and cysts were uncommon in both groups.

Conclusions:

  • MLPT birth is linked to reduced brain size, delayed myelination, and immature gyral folding compared to full-term birth.
  • These observed brain alterations may underlie long-term neurodevelopmental challenges in MLPT children.
  • The findings highlight critical developmental differences in the brains of MLPT infants.
Abstract

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