Risk factors associated with the development of peri-intraventricular haemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia

81 preterm infants of 34 weeks' gestation or less were prospectively and sequentially examined by means of real-time ultrasound in order to identify which clinical risk factors might be associated with the development of peri-intraventricular haemorrhage (PVH) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Infants were allocated in three groups: group A (n = 44): with normal scans; group B (n = 24): with isolated PVH, and group C (n = 13): with PVL. 28 obstetrical and neonatal factors were compared within the three groups using two methods of statistical analysis (2 x 2 chi 2 analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis). Hyaline membrane disease, acidosis, pneumothorax and Apgar score at 10 min were statistically associated with PVH. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that need for resuscitation, hyaline membrane disease, acidosis and gestational age were the most important factors. Gestational age, seizures, hyaline membrane disease, apnoea with hypoxaemia and bradycardia were strongly associated with PVL. These results suggest that a low gestational age, the need for resuscitation and a respiratory distress syndrome with its consequences might lead to PVH, whereas a low gestational age, hypoxaemia and cardiocirculatory disturbances might decrease cerebral perfusion and result into PVL.