Relationships between early postnatal cranial ultrasonography linear measures and neurobehaviour at term-equivalent age in infants born <30 weeks' gestational age

The aim of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the predictive value of discrimination and habituation, which was measured by mismatch negativity in 17 healthy very preterm (mean gestational age 27.4 weeks; range 25.0-31.3) and 16 term (mean gestational age 40.3 weeks; range 37.9-41.7) born infants at term equivalent age. Developmental outcome was measured by Bayley Scales of Infant Development–I in 13 preterm and 13 term-born children at a mean age of 21.7 months (±2.18) and 18.5 months (±1.9), respectively. No differences in amplitude and latency of the mismatch negativity were found between both groups at term equivalent age. Within the preterm group habituation capacity was positively correlated with the Mental Developmental Index ( r = .654, P = .008) and Performance Developmental Index ( r = .482, P = .048) at 21 months. Early learning capability, as measured by habituation, may be associated with a better prognosis for early mental development in healthy preterm infants.

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Early life predictors of brain development at term-equivalent age in infants born across the gestational age spectrum

NeuroImage ◽

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.04.031 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 185 ◽

pp. 813-824 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Deanne K. Thompson ◽

Claire E. Kelly ◽

Jian Chen ◽

Richard Beare ◽

Bonnie Alexander ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Development ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Early Life ◽

Equivalent Age

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P249 Body composition and hormonal status at term equivalent age in preterm infants of small and appropriate weight for gestational age

10.1136/archdischild-2017-313273.337 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Irina Belyaeva ◽

Leyla Namazova-Baranova ◽

Margarita Okuneva ◽

Elena Bombardirova ◽

Tatiana Turti

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Hormonal Status ◽

Equivalent Age

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Adiposity in small for gestational age preterm infants assessed at term equivalent age

Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition ◽

10.1136/adc.2008.153163 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 94 (5) ◽

pp. F368-F372 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

M L Gianni ◽

P Roggero ◽

F Taroni ◽

N Liotto ◽

P Piemontese ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Small For Gestational Age ◽

Equivalent Age

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Low-grade intraventricular hemorrhage and neurodevelopment at 24 months of age

Scientia Medica ◽

10.15448/1980-6108.2018.3.29354 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 29354

Author(s):

Sara Peixoto ◽

Joana Amaral ◽

Cristina Resende ◽

Dolores Faria ◽

Adelaide Taborda

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Intraventricular Hemorrhage ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Neurodevelopmental Outcome ◽

Male Gender ◽

Low Grade ◽

Antenatal Corticosteroid ◽

The Impact ◽

Cranial Ultrasonography

AIMS: To evaluate the impact of low-grade intraventricular hemorrhage on neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants at 24 months of age.METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study of infants with gestational age less than 34 weeks, admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between January/2006 and December/2015. Cases were defined as those with low-grade intraventricular hemorrhage (grades I or II), diagnosed by cranial ultrasonography. For each case, a control with the same gestational age but without intraventricular hemorrhage was selected. Follow-up examinations of neurodevelopment were performed at 24 months of age in cases and controls using the Griffiths Mental Development Scale. Cerebral palsy, neurodevelopmental delay (developmental quotient <2 side deviations below the mean), hearing impairment and/or blindness were considered as severe neurodevelopmental impairment.RESULTS: The study included 172 preterm infants: 86 cases and 86 controls. In the univariate analysis, a difference between the two groups was identified for the following clinical findings: antenatal corticosteroid complete cycle (57% in cases vs. 80% in controls; p=0.001; OR: 0.33, 95%CI 0.17-0.64); male gender (63% cases vs. 41% controls; p=0.004; OR: 2.45, 95%CI 1.3-4.5); outborn (26% cases vs. 9% controls; p=0.005; OR: 3.3 95%CI 1.4-8.0); Clinical Risk Index for Babies higher than 5 (24% in cases vs. 12% in controls; p=0.029; OR: 2.4 95%CI 1.1-5.6); intubation in the delivery room (47% cases vs. 27% controls; p=0.007; OR: 2.38 95%CI 1.3-4.5); and neonatal sepsis (34% in cases vs. 20% in controls; p=0.039; OR: 2.1 95%CI 1.03-4.1). After logistic regression, differences were only maintained for antenatal corticosteroid (p=0.005; OR 0.34, 95%CI 0.16-0.72) and male gender (p=0.002; OR 2.9, 95%CI 1.4-5.8). A severe neurodevelopmental deficit was present in three cases (3.5%) and one control (1.2%). No statistically significant differences in outcome were found between cases and controls.CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, preterm infants with low-grade intraventricular hemorrhage diagnosed by cranial ultrasonography had no difference in early neurodevelopmental outcome when compared with controls.

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Multiparametric Analysis of Cerebral Development in Preterm Infants Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Frontiers in Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnins.2021.658002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Marine Dubois ◽

Antoine Legouhy ◽

Isabelle Corouge ◽

Olivier Commowick ◽

Baptiste Morel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Brain Maturation ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Equivalent Age ◽

Very Preterm ◽

Extremely Preterm ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesThe severity of neurocognitive impairment increases with prematurity. However, its mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our aim was firstly to identify multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers that differ according to the degree of prematurity, and secondly to evaluate the impact of clinical complications on these markers.Materials and MethodsWe prospectively enrolled preterm infants who were divided into two groups according to their degree of prematurity: extremely preterm (<28 weeks’ gestational age) and very preterm (28–32 weeks’ gestational age). They underwent a multiparametric brain MRI scan at term-equivalent age including morphological, diffusion tensor and arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion sequences. We quantified overall and regional volumes, diffusion parameters, and cerebral blood flow (CBF). We then compared the parameters for the two groups. We also assessed the effects of clinical data and potential MRI morphological abnormalities on those parameters.ResultsThirty-four preterm infants were included. Extremely preterm infants (n = 13) had significantly higher frontal relative volumes (p = 0.04), frontal GM relative volumes (p = 0.03), and regional CBF than very preterm infants, but they had lower brainstem and insular relative volumes (respectively p = 0.008 and 0.04). Preterm infants with WM lesions on MRI had significantly lower overall GM CBF (13.3 ± 2 ml/100 g/min versus 17.7 ± 2.5, < ml/100 g/min p = 0.03).ConclusionMagnetic resonance imaging brain scans performed at term-equivalent age in preterm infants provide quantitative imaging parameters that differ with respect to the degree of prematurity, related to brain maturation.

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Novel Diffuse White Matter Abnormality Biomarker at Term-Equivalent Age Enhances Prediction of Long-term Motor Development in Children Born Very Preterm

10.1101/2020.08.04.20167031 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nehal A Parikh ◽

Karen Harpster ◽

Lili He ◽

Venkata Sita Priyanka Illapani ◽

Fatima Chughtai Khalid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Motor Development ◽

Prognostic Biomarker ◽

White Matter Abnormality ◽

Very Preterm Infants ◽

Equivalent Age ◽

Very Preterm ◽

Diffuse White Matter

Our objective was to evaluate the independent prognostic value of a novel MRI biomarker − objectively diagnosed diffuse white matter abnormality volume (DWMA; diffuse excessive high signal intensity) − for prediction of motor outcomes in very preterm infants. We prospectively enrolled a geographically-based cohort of very preterm infants without severe brain injury and born before 32 weeks gestational age. Structural brain MRI was obtained at term-equivalent age and DWMA volume was objectively quantified using a published validated algorithm. These results were compared with visually classified DWMA. We used multivariable linear regression to assess the value of DWMA volume, independent of known predictors, to predict motor development as assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant & Toddler Development, Third Edition at 3 years of age. The mean (SD) gestational age of the cohort was 28.3 (2.4) weeks. In multivariable analyses, controlling for gestational age, sex, and abnormality on structural MRI, DWMA volume was an independent prognostic biomarker of Bayley Motor scores (β= −12.59 [95% CI: −18.70, −6.48] R2=0.41). Conversely, visually classified DWMA was not predictive of motor development. In conclusion, objectively quantified DWMA is an independent prognostic biomarker of long-term motor development in very preterm infants and warrants further study.

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Brain volumes of very low birth weight infants measured by two dimensional cranial ultrasonography, a prospective cohort study

10.1101/485474 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Gulsum Kadioglu ◽

Fuat Emre Canpolat ◽

Mehmet Buyuktiryaki ◽

H. Gozde Kanmaz Kutman ◽

Cuneyt Tayman

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Brain Volume ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Low Birth Weight Infants ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Dimensional Measurements ◽

Cranial Ultrasonography

Background: Cranial ultrasonography is the main neuroimaging technique for very low birth weight infants. Brain volume is a very important information about central nervous system of preterm babies. This study aimed to evaluate brain volumes of preterm infants with two dimensional measurements of cranial ultrasonography. Methods: Intracranial height, anteroposterior diameter, bi-parietal diamater, ventricular height, thalamo-occipital distance and ventricular index measured with routine cranial ultrasonographic scanning. Brain considered a spheric, ellipsoid model and estimated absolute brain volume (EABV) calculated by substracting two lateral ventricular volumes from the total brain volume. Results: One hundred and twenty one preterm infants under a birthweight of 1500 g and 32 weeks of gestational age included in this study. Mean gestational age of study population was 27,7 weeks, and mean birthweight was 1057 grams. Twenty two of 121 infants had dilated ventricle, in this group EABV was lower than normal group (202 ± 58 cm3 vs 250 ± 53 cm3, respectively, p<0.01). Advanced resuscitation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and late onset sepsis found to be independent risk factors for low brain volume in our data. Conclusions: Estimated absolute brain volume could be calculated and estimated by two dimensional measurements with transfontanel ultrasonography. Clinical Trial Registration ID #NCT02848755.

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Retinopathy of Prematurity and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia are Independent Antecedents of Cortical Maturational Abnormalities in Very Preterm Infants

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-56298-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Julia E. Kline ◽

Venkata Sita Priyanka Illapani ◽

Lili He ◽

Mekibib Altaye ◽

Nehal A. Parikh

Keyword(s):

Surface Area ◽

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Full Term ◽

Term Infants ◽

Very Preterm Infants ◽

Equivalent Age ◽

Very Preterm

AbstractVery preterm (VPT) infants are at high-risk for neurodevelopmental impairments, however there are few validated biomarkers at term-equivalent age that accurately measure abnormal brain development and predict future impairments. Our objectives were to quantify and contrast cortical features between full-term and VPT infants at term and to associate two key antecedent risk factors, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), with cortical maturational changes in VPT infants. We prospectively enrolled a population-based cohort of 110 VPT infants (gestational age ≤31 weeks) and 51 healthy full-term infants (gestational age 38–42 weeks). Structural brain MRI was performed at term. 94 VPT infants and 46 full-term infants with high-quality T2-weighted MRI were analyzed. As compared to full-term infants, VPT infants exhibited significant global cortical maturational abnormalities, including reduced surface area (−5.9%) and gyrification (−6.7%) and increased curvature (5.9%). In multivariable regression controlled for important covariates, BPD was significantly negatively correlated with lobar and global cortical surface area and ROP was significantly negatively correlated with lobar and global sulcal depth in VPT infants. Our cohort of VPT infants exhibited widespread cortical maturation abnormalities by term-equivalent age that were in part anteceded by two of the most potent neonatal diseases, BPD and ROP.

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