Unilateral germinal matrix hemorrhage in the newborn

A review of cranial ultrasound examinations performed on 426 newborns over a 42-month period demonstrated a predominance of left-sided germinal matrix hemorrhage over both right-sided and bilateral germinal matrix hemorrhage. Distribution of intraventricular or intraparenchymal hemorrhage did not show this pattern. The reasons for left-sided predominance of germinal matrix hemorrhage remain speculative, and perhaps are related to cerebrovascular anatomic differences or to hemodynamic stresses related to patency of the ductus arteriosus.