Neurodevelopmental outcome in full-term infants with symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage of unknown aetiology

During a seven-year period symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage was diagnosed in ten full-term infants from the County of North Jutland, Denmark. The source of the haemorrhage was unknown in six of these patients. These infants were followed for a mean period of 50 months. The haemorrhages were located in the germinal matrix in two, the choroid plexus in one, the thalamus in one and the occipital region in two infants. Onset of symptoms, of which the most common was seizures, ranged from one to 35 days of age. All infants survived. Five infants developed hydrocephalus and were shunt operated. Three had a normal neurodevelopmental outcome. Three had an abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome: one had a mild hemiparesis and epilepsy and two were considered to have psychomotor retardation. The incidence of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage of unknown aetiology was 1.6 cases per 10,000 live term births. We conclude that the neurodevelopmental outcome was fairly favourable although five out of six infants had to be shunted.