Brain growth in preterm infants is affected by the degree of growth restriction at birth

• Published in: The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine Vol. 26; no. 7; p. 673
• Main Authors: Xydis, Vasileios, Drougia, Aikaterini, Giapros, Vasileios, Argyropoulou, Maria, Andronikou, Styliani
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.05.2013
• Subjects: Brain - growth & development; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature - growth & development; Infant, Small for Gestational Age - growth & development; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Regression Analysis
• ISSN: 1476-4954
• DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2012.746300

Documentation of examination of brain structural development by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) beyond the neonatal period is scarce for both preterm and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. To investigate structural brain development during infancy in preterm children born SGA by MRI. A total of 205 preterm infants, 139 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and 66 SGA, of which 33 had birth weight (BW) < 3rd percentile and 33 had BW 3rd-10th percentile, were examined prospectively by brain MRI at the corrected age of 5 months. The total volume of the brain, ventricles and cerebellum, the area of vermis and corpus callosum, and the height of the pituitary, mesencephalon and pons were estimated on MRI. Brain volume was smaller in the SGA < 3rd percentile infants, independent of other perinatal factors. Chronic lung disease was an independent predictor of low brain volume. Pituitary height was greater in SGA < 3rd percentile than in AGA infants. The corpus callosum area was less in SGA < 3rd percentile than in SGA of 3rd-10th percentile infants. Preterm infants born SGA with BW < 3rd percentile had differences in brain structural measurements at the corrected age of 5 months, compared with preterm AGA infants, which could have implications for their neurocognitive development.