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Perinatal events which precede periventricular haemorrhage and leukomalacia in the newborn
Author(s) -
WEINDLING A. M.,
WILKINSON A. R.,
COOK J.,
CALVERT S. A.,
FOK TF.,
ROCHEFORT M. J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1985.tb04865.x
Subject(s) - periventricular leukomalacia , medicine , hypoxia (environmental) , pediatrics , antepartum haemorrhage , gestational age , pregnancy , gestation , chemistry , genetics , organic chemistry , oxygen , biology
Summary. Ultrasound brain scans were obtained daily for the first 5 days after birth, on day 7 and then weekly until discharge from hospital in 86 babies during a 12‐month period. The babies weighed <1501 g or were <34 weeks gestational age. Fifty‐one (59%) had normal scans. 34 (40%) developed periventricular haemorrhage, and seven (8%) developed periventricular cysts (associated with periventricular haemorrhage in six). Factors associated with periventricular haemorrhage were perinatal hypoxia, acidosis, hypercapnia and hypoxia after birth. Babies who developed periventricular cysts (periventricular leukomalacia) were more likely to have been hypoxic at birth and in four of the seven there had been a maternal antepartum haemorrhage. The association of perinatal hypoxia with periventricular haemorrhage and leukomalacia suggests that intraparturm events may predispose to the onset of these lesions which then develop postnatally. Prevention of perinatal hypoxia may play an important role in diminishing the disability caused by these conditions.