Long term neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants with periventricularintraventricular hemorrhage

Abstract

Background and aims To determine the neurodevelopmental morbidity of preterm infants with periventricular intraventricular haemorrhage, at the age of 4. Methods The patients at the age of 4 were evaluated through neurologic examination and motor assessment by a paediatric neurologist and Denver II Developmental Screening Test by a psychologist. The results were compared with Denver II Developmental Screening Test results which had been made at 3-6 and 6-12 months. Results The total study population consisted of 66 prematurely born children of less than 37 gestational age. When the cases with PVH-IVH were graded with the cranial neuroimaging findings, 62,1% were documented as grade I haemorrhage, 18% as grade II, 6% as grade III and 13.9% as grade IV. Patients with grade III-IV Periventricular Intraventricular Haemorrhage had significantly lower Denver II Developmental Screening Test results at the age of 4, compared with grade I-II Periventricular-Intraventricular Haemorrhage group. Similarly, ≤32 weeks patients had significantly lower Denver II Developmental Screening Test at the age of 4 when compared with >32 weeks pa-tients. Conclusions Children who were born ≤32 gestational weeks and/or patients with grade III-IV periventricular-intraventricular Haemorrhage have an increased risk of neurologic impairment. All premature infants should be evaluated by Denver II Developmental Screening Test in early childhood period of life.