Brainstem size and function at term age in relation to later neurosensory disability in high-risk, preterm infants

Autor: A M, Valkama, E U, Tolonen, L I, Kerttul, E L, Pääkkö, L K, Vainionpää, M E, Koivist
Rok vydání: 2001
Předmět:
Zdroj: Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992). 90(8)
ISSN: 0803-5253
Popis: The aim of this study was to measure brainstem size on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of high-risk. preterm infants, to assess brainstem function by brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEP) and to determine the predictive value of these measures for the neurosensory outcome. A total of 51 preterm infants (gestational age34 wk, birthweight1,500 g) underwent examinations at term age; neuromotor outcome and hearing were followed up until a corrected age of 18 mo. Fourteen (27%) infants had neurosensory disability. Those with a later neurosensory disability had a significantly smaller brain stem than those with a normal outcome. The preterm infants had significantly longer peak latency (L) V and interpeak latency (IPL) III-V than the full-term control infants. Most of the preterm infants with severe cerebral palsy or hearing loss had abnormal BAEP. Sensitivity of morphometric dimensions for predicting neurosensory disability was only 20-31%, but specificity was 97-100%. Abnormal L I and IPL III-V in BAEP predicted disability with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 57-59%.We conclude that adverse events during the perinatal period may lead to morphofunctional changes in the brain stem in high-risk, preterm infants, and it seems that functional changes are accurate in predicting neurosensory disability in such patients.
Databáze: OpenAIRE