Low-grade intraventricular hemorrhage of preterm infants: neurodevelopmental and motor outcome

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a main complication of prematurity, inversely associated with gestational age and birth weight. Low-grade IVH (I and II), diagnosed by cranial ultrasound, had long been considered rather not to affect neurodevelopmental and motor outcome, a view challenged by several literature reports. However, diversity in studies design, periods of subjects' collection, cohort characteristics, demographic data, maternal or neonatal comorbidities, neuroimaging methods, evaluation tools, short-or-long-term follow-up by the same or different examiners, as well as other parameters and confounders make comparisons among reports very difficult, not allowing solid conclusions. Older, but also newer investigations claim both possible outcomes: impairment or not of cognitive and motor abilities in very preterm infants with low-grade IVH. Thus, the current suggestion in the relevant literature is not to rely only on the results of cranial ultrasounds, but to also implement classic, or even more advanced MRI techniques at term equivalent age to preterm infants with grade I or II IVH. In addition, the continuation of close follow-up during school age is warranted.