Assessment of brain structure and volume reveals neurodevelopmental abnormalities in preterm infants with low-grade...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology
• Neonatology

Background:

• Preterm infants are at risk for abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes.
• Low-grade intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a common complication in preterm infants.
• Early identification of neurodevelopmental risks is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between brain microstructure, volume, and neuro-behavioral outcomes in preterm infants with low-grade IVH.
• To utilize advanced MRI techniques for quantitative brain assessment.
• To correlate imaging findings with neurodevelopmental assessments at 40 weeks corrected gestational age.

Main Methods:

• Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging (DKI) and Synthetic MRI were used to evaluate brain microstructure and volume.
• 25 preterm infants with mild IVH (Papile I/II) and 40 controls underwent MRI at term-equivalent age.
• Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) was performed at 40 weeks corrected gestational age.

Main Results:

• Preterm infants with low-grade IVH exhibited reduced brain parenchymal fraction (BPF).
• Significant alterations in microstructure were observed, including reduced mean kurtosis (MK), fractional anisotropy (FA), radial kurtosis (RK), axial kurtosis (AK), and increased mean diffusivity (MD).
• BPF, cerebellar RK, corpus callosum MK, and thalamic MK were associated with lower NBNA scores.

Conclusions:

• DKI and Synthetic MRI effectively quantify microstructural and volumetric brain changes in preterm infants with low-grade IVH.
• These advanced imaging techniques offer a comprehensive and accurate neurobehavioral assessment.
• The findings underscore the impact of mild IVH on brain development and neurobehavioral outcomes.