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Updated: Sep 4, 2025
Modeling Neonatal Intraventricular Hemorrhage Through Intraventricular Injection of Hemoglobin
Published on: August 25, 2022
Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants with intraventricular haemorrhage
Nele Legge1,2, Tracey Lutz2,3, Crista Wocadlo3
1Neonatal Intensive Care unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Insights
Mild intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) in premature infants does not impact long-term cognitive, motor, or academic development. This study found no significant differences in school-aged outcomes for infants with Grade I and II IVH.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) is a significant risk factor for neurodevelopmental impairments in preterm infants.
- The long-term effects of mild IVH (Grade I and II) on neurodevelopment remain controversial.
- This study investigates the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants with mild IVH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the long-term neurodevelopmental impact of Grade I and II intraventricular haemorrhage in preterm infants.
- To compare cognitive, motor, and academic outcomes at school age between preterm infants with and without mild IVH.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort analysis of preterm infants (<30 weeks gestation) admitted to a tertiary NICU in Australia (2006-2013).
- Inclusion criteria: complete ultrasound reports and neurodevelopmental follow-up data at 5 and 8 years.
- Standardized tests were used to assess neurodevelopmental outcomes; results were compared between infants with mild IVH and those with normal head ultrasounds.
Main Results:
- A total of 491 infants were admitted; 275 had complete follow-up data.
- No significant differences were observed in cognitive, motor, or academic outcomes at 5- and 8-year follow-ups between the mild IVH group and the control group.
Conclusions:
- Mild intraventricular haemorrhage (Grade I and II) does not appear to adversely affect cognitive, motor, or academic development in preterm infants during the early school years.
- These findings suggest that mild IVH may not necessitate specific interventions aimed at mitigating long-term neurodevelopmental deficits.
Background:
Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) is one of the key risks for long-term neurodevelopmental issues. There remains controversy over the impact low-grade IVH has on the long-term outcome of premature infants. This study describes the long-term neurodevelopmental impact of Grade I and II IVH in former preterm infants in the early school years.
Methods:
This is a retrospective cohort analysis from one tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Australia including all infants born at <30 weeks' gestation and admitted to the NICU between 2006 and 2013 with complete ultrasound reports and follow-up results. Results of standardised tests for neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5 and 8 years were compared between infants who suffered mild IVH and infants who had normal head ultrasounds.
Results:
During the study period, 491 infants <30 weeks gestation were admitted; 275 patients had full follow-up data available. We found no significant difference in examined outcomes at 5- and 8-year follow-up.
Conclusion:
Mild IVH does not affect cognitive, motor and academic outcomes at school age.
