ABSTRACT
GMH/IVH(Germinal martrix-Intraventricular hemorrhage ) is an inportant factor that influences on the mortality rate of low-birth-weight infants. The real-time high resolution sonography with a mechanical sector scanner is a convenient and useful method for the detection and follow-up study of intracranial hemorrhage in low-birth-weight infants. Authors analysed 112 cases of neurosonographic findings in low-birth-weight infants, weighing less than 2,500gm. The incidence of GMH/IVH was 54.5%. The severity of GMH/IVH was classified into 4 grades(I-IV) and their percentages were 41%, 41% 8.1%, and 9.9%, respectively. The onset of GMH/IVH was within the first week after birth in 75.4% of cases. The overall mortality rate of low-birth-weight infants with GMH/IVH was 18% (4% for grade I, 12% for grade II, 40% for grade III and 83% for grade IV). In the follow-up study of 61 cases, complete absorption was seen in 25 cases, rebleeding in 5 cases, cystic change in 24 cases, ventriculomegaly in 9 cases and hydrocephalus in 7 cases. The incidence of GMH/IVH in neonates with pathologic lung conditions was 82.5% and that with normal lung conditions was 39%. In conclusion, sonography is very useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of GMH/IVH in low-birth-weight infants. Our study is the first step in the further study of the relationship between GMH/IVH and neuromotor outcome.