Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of neonates born at term with perinatal haemorrhagic stroke: A population-based study.

AIM: To assess the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of neonates born at term diagnosed with perinatal haemorrhagic stroke (PHS) and investigate the associations among brain territorial involvement, clinical risk factors, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. METHOD: We conducted a population-based study enrolling 55 neonates born at term with PHS confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging born between 2007 and 2017. Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition, the Brunet-Lézine test, and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition. RESULTS: Follow-up was available in 50 (91%) of the infants, at a median age of 60 months (interquartile range 35-88). Forty per cent of the infants developed according to population norms, and developmental disabilities were diagnosed less frequently among neonates with frontal lobe PHS. In a multivariable model, parietal lobe PHS increased the risk for cerebral palsy (odds ratio [OR] 6.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-41.4) and cognitive impairment (OR: 23.6; 95% CI: 2.9-194.9), while the involvement of the thalamus and/or basal ganglia was associated with epilepsy (OR: 7.0; 95% CI: 1.3-37.7). Seizures on admission were associated with epilepsy (OR: 10.8; 95% CI: 1.8-64.3). Patients with PHS affecting multiple lobes had poor prognosis. INTERPRETATION: Parietal lobe haemorrhage, the involvement of the thalamus/basal ganglia, PHS affecting multiple lobes, and seizures were independent predictors of chronic neurodevelopmental sequelae, suggesting that the stroke territorial involvement and clinical risk factors influence the outcome of PHS.

Reading and spelling skills of prematurely born children in light of the underlying cognitive factors.

Prematurity is a serious risk factor for learning difficulties. Within the academic skills reading has the greatest impact on the prospects of the students; therefore, studying the reading skills in the risk populations is very important. The aim of our study was to investigate reading and spelling skills of prematurely born children. Our target group consisted of 8-11-year-old children (n = 23) who were born preterm with very low birthweights (VLBW). For comparison 57 full-term children (27 good readers and 30 dyslexics) were included in the study sample. To assess the reading and spelling abilities the Hungarian version of the 3DM (Dyslexia Differential Diagnosis) was used. Cognitive abilities were tested using the Hungarian adaptation of the WISC-IV and the Rey Complex Figure Test. The data were analyzed with a novel statistical approach using the R program. In the cognitive measures the mean performances of all three groups fell within the normal range. In the WISC-IV Full-scale IQ as well as in some other cognitive measures the good readers significantly outperformed both the dyslexics and the preterms. The findings of the study did not confirm our expectation that VLBW prematurity should lead to developmental disadvantages in the acquisition of reading and spelling skills since in the reading and spelling performances of the good readers and the preterms did not differ, while both the good readers and the preterms scored higher than the dyslexics. The results suggest that the cognitive assets of the preterm children contributing to their reading and spelling performances were their good spatial-visual memory, working memory, and processing speed. The identification of the cognitive mechanisms underlying reading and spelling abilities is of crucial importance for designing intervention for children with deficits in these academic skills.

[Follow-up study of extremely low birth weight preterm infants to preschool age in the light of perinatal complications]. / Az extrém kis születési súlyú koraszülöttek fejlodésének követése az óvodáskor végéig a perinatalis szövodmények tükrében.

INTRODUCTION: Owing to the rapid progress of the medical science and technology, the chances of survival of the extremely low birth weight (<1000 g) preterm babies have dramatically improved. Nevertheless, the research findings on their long-term developmental outcome are inconsistent. AIM: Our study has attempted to contribute to the understanding of the developmental mechanisms in the extremely low birth weight preterm infants and to the prediction of the developmental outcomes taking into account of the risk factors of development. METHOD: 34 preterm children who were free of any major central nervous system injury were followed up from one to 5-6 years of age. The psychomotor development of the infants was assessed at 1 and 2 years of age and, at 5-6 years of age, intelligence tests were administered to the children. Perinatal and environmental factors were included in the data analysis. RESULTS: The extremely low birth weight preterm children as a group displayed no developmental delay at any of the measurement points. The mean developmental quotients were 98.6 and 106.6 at ages 1 and 2 years, respectively. At 5-6 years of age, the mean verbal IQ was 101.4, while the mean performance IQ was 92.9. Behind the group means there was a wide range of individual variations. The most powerful contributors to the developmental outcomes were birth weight, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intra-uterine growth retardation, gender, and maternal education. The girls had a significant advantage over the boys in language development. Verbal intelligence was hampered by intracranial hemorrhage, while intrauterine growth restriction had a similar effect on the performance IQ. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that even the extremely preterm infants may have rather good chances of satisfactory mental development. However, the individual developmental prospects are influenced by a great number of domain-specific risk- and protective factors. Although at a group-level, infant psychomotor development is a significant predictor of later intelligence quotient, the rate of development may change at any age. The phenomenon of "moving risk" underscores the importance of the long-term follow-up of preterm infants. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(41): 1672-1679.

[Perinatal stroke - from symptoms to follow-up]. / Újszülöttkori stroke - a tünetek megjelenésétol az utánkövetésig.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to analyze patient characteristics of term neonates with the diagnosis of stroke between 2006 and 2017 at the 3rd level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Szent János Hospital. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective and prospective analysis including 18 newborns with stroke. Presentation, imaging methods, etiology and clinical context were discussed. All patients had a follow-up at 2 years of age or later. Subject of the study - In the past 10 years 17 term born and one premature neonate born at 36 weeks of age were diagnosed with stroke in our unit. All patients were born at good condition generally with high Apgar scores (9±1). Cesarean section was performed in 4 cases. RESULTS: With an estimated incidence of one in 1600-4000 births, the incidence of perinatal stroke in our unit was found to be the same as mentioned in the international databases. Regarding imaging method, cranial ultrasound scan do not visualise arterial ischaemic stroke therefore head MRI is recommended. Neurological symptoms of the patients presented in the first two days of life. Etiology included thrombophilia (4/18), infection (4/18), vascular malformation (2/18), moderate asphyxia (2/18) and pre-eclampsia (2/18). Middle cerebral artery was involved in 50% while the anterior cerebral artery was affected in 33%. The stroke occured in the left hemisphaerium in 44%, in the right side in 39% and was bilateral in 17%. In two cases the stroke was diagnosed in utero. Early childhood developmental support resulted in average or above average gross and fine motor development and cognitive outcome. CONCLUSION: Presenting neurological symptoms typically occur in the first few days after birth when perinatal stroke need to be considered among the broad spectrum of neonatal illnesses. Normal developmental outcome can be achieved even in cases of extensive brain damage with early childhood developmental support. Severely impaired development was observed in the cases of in utero stroke. Inherited prothrombotic disorders may have implications for subsequent pregnancies of the mother.

Intelligence and executive function of school-age preterm children in function of birth weight and perinatal complication.

AIM: Assessment of intelligence and executive function in 9-10-year-old preterm children as compared to a full-term comparison group and to reveal the background of the individual differences in the outcomes by analyzing the effects of perinatal and social-economic factors. METHOD: Seventy-two preterm children (divided into two groups: 32 extremely low birth weight, 40 very low birth weight) and a matched group of 33 healthy full-term children, aged 9-10 years, were tested using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC-IV) and digital versions of tasks measuring executive function. As background information perinatal variables and maternal education were entered in the analysis. RESULTS: In the WISC-IV all three groups performed in the normal range. The preterm children, particularly the ELBW subgroup, scored significantly lower than the full-term comparison group in several outcome measures. Behind the group means there were massive scatters of the individual scores. Lower maternal education, male gender, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) increased the risk for performance deficits. CONCLUSION: Low-to-moderate risk preterm children as groups are disadvantaged in the development of intelligence and executive function as compared to healthy full-term children even until school-age. However, with appropriate protective factors they may have chances to develop comparably with their full-term, non-risk counterparts.

The role of brain territorial involvement and infection/inflammation in the long-term outcome of neonates with arterial ischemic stroke: A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal arterial ischemic stroke (NAIS) carries the risk of significant long-term neurodevelopmental burden on survivors. AIMS: To assess the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of term neonates diagnosed with NAIS and investigate the associations among brain territorial involvement on MRI, clinical risk factors and neurodevelopmental outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SUBJECTS: Seventy-nine term neonates with NAIS confirmed by MRI born between 2007 and 2017. OUTCOME MEASURES: Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II, the Brunet-Lézine test and the Binet Intelligence scales-V. RESULTS: Follow-up was available in 70 (89%) of the subjects enrolled, at a median age of 60 months [IQR: 35-84]. Normal neurodevelopmental outcome was found in 43% of the patients. In a multivariable model, infants with main MCA stroke had an increased risk for overall adverse outcome (OR: 9.1, 95% CI: 1.7-48.0) and a particularly high risk for cerebral palsy (OR: 55.9, 95% CI: 7.8-399.2). The involvement of the corticospinal tract without extensive stroke also increased the risk for cerebral palsy/fine motor impairment (OR: 13.5, 95% CI: 2.4-76.3). Multiple strokes were associated with epilepsy (OR: 9.5, 95% CI: 1.0-88.9) and behavioral problems (OR: 4.4, 95% CI: 1.1-17.5) and inflammation/infection was associated with cerebral palsy (OR: 9.8, 95% CI: 1.4-66.9), cognitive impairment (OR: 9.2, 95% CI: 1.8-47.8) and epilepsy (OR: 10.3, 95% CI: 1.6-67.9). CONCLUSIONS: Main MCA stroke, involvement of the corticospinal tract, multiple strokes and inflammation/infection were independent predictors of adverse outcome, suggesting that the interplay of stroke territorial involvement and clinical risk factors influence the outcome of NAIS.