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Updated: May 3, 2026
Mouse Models of Periventricular Leukomalacia
Published on: May 18, 2010
The effect of hemoglobin level in early life on periventricular leukomalacia: a case control study
Muchun Yu1, Zhihong Sun1, Lu He1
1Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan, 450018, China.
Insights
Low hemoglobin and red blood cell counts in preterm infants can predict periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) risk. These easily accessible laboratory indicators offer early warning signs for this common brain injury in neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Pediatric hematology
- Medical laboratory science
Background:
- Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a significant cause of brain injury in preterm infants.
- Early prediction of PVL is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes.
- Identifying accessible laboratory markers for PVL prediction remains an important clinical challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify easily accessible laboratory indicators for the early prediction of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) in preterm infants.
- To assess the correlation between hemoglobin (Hb) levels and red blood cell (RBC) counts with PVL occurrence.
- To determine predictive cut-off values for Hb and RBC counts in early neonatal life.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study involving 364 preterm infants (91 with PVL, 273 controls).
- Infants were matched by sex and birth weight.
- Analysis included t-tests, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of laboratory data from the 7th day after birth.
Main Results:
- Infants with PVL had significantly lower hemoglobin (Hb) levels and red blood cell (RBC) counts on day 7 post-birth compared to controls.
- Logistic regression confirmed Hb level (OR=0.984) and RBC count (OR=0.120) as significant predictors of PVL.
- ROC analysis identified specific cut-off values for Hb (117.5 g/L) and RBC count (3.025 × 10^12/L), with a combined specificity of 0.821.
Conclusions:
- Hemoglobin level and RBC count on the 7th day after birth are suitable and easily obtainable predictors of PVL occurrence in preterm infants.
- These hematological parameters can aid in the early identification of neonates at risk for PVL.
- The findings support the use of routine laboratory values for early PVL risk assessment.
Abstract:
Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a distinct form of brain injury that occurs in preterm infants. The aim of this study is to find suitable and easily accessible laboratory indicators for early prediction of PVL occurrence. A retrospective, case control study was conducted. Infants diagnosed with PVL were included and matched 1:3 with infants without PVL by sex and birth weight. A total of 364 infants were included in this study, including 91 in PVL group and 273 in control group. The hemoglobin (Hb) level (t = -2.961, p = 0.003) and red blood cell (RBC) count (t = -3.593, p < 0.001) in PVL group were lower than those in control group on the 7th day after birth. Logistic regression showed that the Hb level (OR = 0.984, 95%CI 0.972-0.996, p = 0.010) and the RBC count (OR = 0.120, 95%CI 0.034-0.424, p = 0.001) on the 7th day after birth were significantly correlated with the occurrence PVL disease. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the cut-off value of Hb level on the 7th day after birth was 117.5 g/L (sensitivity = 0.553, specificity = 0.637) and the cut-off value of RBC count on the 7th day after birth was 3.025 × 1012/L (sensitivity = 0.762, specificity = 0.451). The specificities of the combined indicator on the 7th day after birth was 0.821. The Hb level and RBC count in early life can be used to predict the occurrence of PVL, which are suitable and easy to obtain.
