Altered grey matter volume, perfusion and white matter integrity in very low birthweight adults

• Published in: NeuroImage clinical Vol. 22; p. 101780
• Main Authors: Pascoe, Maddie J., Melzer, Tracy R., Horwood, L. John, Woodward, Lianne J., Darlow, Brian A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.01.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Brain; Cerebral Cortex - diagnostic imaging; Cerebral Cortex - pathology; Cerebral Cortex - physiology; Cerebral perfusion; Cerebrovascular Circulation - physiology; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gray Matter - diagnostic imaging; Gray Matter - pathology; Gray Matter - physiology; Humans; Infant, Extremely Premature - physiology; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - physiology; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Male; Preterm; Radiology; Regular; Very low birth weight; White Matter - diagnostic imaging; White Matter - pathology; White Matter - physiology; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Brain; Adult; Cerebral perfusion; Very low birth weight; Preterm
• ISSN: 2213-1582; 2213-1582
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101780

This study examined the long-term effects of being born very-low-birth-weight (VLBW, <1500 g) on adult cerebral structural development using a multi-method neuroimaging approach. The New Zealand VLBW study cohort comprised 413 individuals born VLBW in 1986. Of the 338 who survived to discharge, 229 were assessed at age 27–29 years. Of these, 150 had a 3 T MRI scan alongside 50 healthy term-born controls. The VLBW group included 53/57 participants born <28 weeks gestation. MRI analyses included: a) structural MRI to assess grey matter (GM) volume and cortical thickness; b) arterial spin labelling (ASL) to quantify GM perfusion; and c) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to measure white matter (WM) integrity. Compared to controls, VLBW adults had smaller GM volumes within frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortices, bilateral cingulate gyri and left caudate, as well as greater GM volumes in frontal, temporal and occipital areas. Thinner cortex was observed within frontal, temporal and parietal cortices. VLBW adults also had less GM perfusion within limited temporal areas, bilateral hippocampi and thalami. Finally, lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity (AD) within principal WM tracts was observed in VLBW subjects. Within the VLBW group, birthweight was positively correlated with GM volume and perfusion in cortical and subcortical regions, as well as FA and AD across numerous principal WM tracts. Between group differences within temporal cortices were evident across all imaging modalities, suggesting that the temporal lobe may be particularly susceptible to disruption in development following preterm birth. Overall, findings reveal enduring and pervasive effects of preterm birth on brain structural development, with individuals born at lower birthweights having greater long-term neuropathology. •Very-low-birth-weight adults had smaller GM volumes and thinner cortex than controls.•VLBW adults also showed regions of larger grey matter volumes and thicker cortex.•Several small regions showed lower cerebral perfusion in VLBW adults than in controls.•Diffusion tensor MRI suggested poorer WM integrity in VLBW adults than in controls.•Within VLBW adults, all MRI measures showed positive associations with birthweight.