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Neurological outcome of severe cystic periventricular leukomalacia
Author(s) -
WILKINSON I,
BEAR J,
SMITH J,
GILL A,
CHALLINOR C,
JONES W,
SHAHIDULLAH M,
WOODERSON S
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1996.tb00947.x
Subject(s) - medicine , periventricular leukomalacia , pediatrics , spastic , cerebral palsy , cohort , epilepsy , cohort study , gestational age , pregnancy , physical therapy , pathology , genetics , psychiatry , biology
Objective : To determine the neurological outcome of a cohort of premature babies having ultrasound diagnoses of severe cystic periventricular leukomalacia. Methodology : All neonatal intensive care unit admissions born at less than 35 weeks gestation or weighing less than 1500 g underwent serial cranial ultrasounds. Those developing severe bilateral cystic periventricular leukomalacia (12 patients) were then followed clinically to a mean age of 27.3 months. Results : Ten of the 12 patients fulfilling strict ultrasound criteria survived. All had a major neurological handicap, all having spastic quadriparesis and visual impairments, with most suffering global developmental delay and epilepsy. Conclusions : Severe bilateral cystic periventricular leukomalacia results in major permanent handicap. It is currently impossible to identify most patients with this condition while they are being ventilated. Non‐ultrasound techniques are needed to diagnose the condition earlier, and to give guidance to management.