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Risk factors and associated diseases among preterm infants with isolated lenticulostriate vasculopathy
A Maayan-Metzger1,2, L Leibovitch1,2, I Schushan-Eisen1,2
1Department of Neonatology, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Insights
Isolated lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV) affects 3.9% of preterm infants. Early LSV has no identified risks, while late LSV is linked to younger gestational age and more complications.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Pediatric radiology
- Perinatal medicine
Background:
- Isolated lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV) is a finding on head ultrasound in infants.
- Understanding its prevalence and associations in preterm infants is crucial for clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and associated diseases of isolated LSV in preterm infants.
- To differentiate between early and late-onset LSV and their clinical implications.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case-control study of 84 preterm infants with isolated LSV (gestational age 25-34 weeks) over 6.5 years.
- Comparison with matched control infants.
- LSV classified as 'early' (within 5 days of life) or 'late' (after 5 days).
Main Results:
- Prevalence of LSV was 3.9% among preterm infants (GA ≤34 weeks).
- Late LSV was associated with younger gestational age, lower birth weight, and increased neonatal complications (e.g., mechanical ventilation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia) compared to early LSV.
- No specific risk factors or morbidities were identified for early isolated LSV.
Conclusions:
- Early isolated LSV in preterm infants appears to have no identifiable risk factors or associated morbidities.
- Late isolated LSV is associated with prematurity and increased neonatal morbidities.
- Further long-term outcome studies are necessary to fully understand the impact of LSV.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence, risk factors and diseases associated with isolated lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV) among preterm infants.
Study Design:
Medical records of 84 preterm infants (gestational age (GA) 25 to 34 weeks) with isolated LSV in a case-control retrospective study over a period of 6.5 years were reviewed and compared with matched control infants. LSV was defined as 'early' if it was documented in head ultrasound (HUS) before or on the fifth day of life and 'late' if it was not present in the first HUS and recorded later during neonatal hospitalization.
Results:
A 3.9% prevalence of LSV was recorded among preterm infants (GA⩽34 weeks). Study and control groups were similar for all maternal parameters, neonatal outcomes and length of hospitalization. Infants with late LSV had more neonatal complications than control infants and were born with younger GA and lower birth weight in comparison to infants with early LSV. More infants with late LSV needed mechanical ventilation, were diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and were hospitalized longer in comparison to infants with early LSV. Urine cytomegalovirus was negative in the entire study group.
Conclusions:
No risk factors or specific associated morbidities were identified among preterm infants with early isolated LSV. Infants with late isolated LSV were younger and had overall increased associated morbidities. Long-term outcome studies are needed to determine LSV impact.
