ABSTRACT
In this cohort study, neurodevelopmental outcome of 20 of 24 surviving very low birth weight infants with sepsis followed-up between 2008 and 2009 was compared with 20 control (uninfected infants). We found that plasma interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein values were negatively correlated with mental developmental index scores (r= -0.33, P= 0.03 and r= -0.40, P= 0.01, respectively) at 18 to 24 months’ corrected age. The results of this study indicate that sepsis experienced in the neonatal period seems to be related to low mental developmental index scores at 18 to 24 months’ corrected age.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To perform neurodevelopmental evaluation at 18 to 24 months’ corrected age in very low birth infants (VLBW) with transient hypothyroxinemia. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Maternity teaching hospital. Patients: Premature infants who were previously evaluated for thyroid hormone values in the first weeks of life were included. Intervention: Data of these infants who weighed ≤1500 g and ≤32 weeks of gestation were retrieved for the current study. Available subjects (n=56) were evaluated for neurodevelopmental status at 18 to 24 months of corrected age. Bayley Scales of Infant Development –Second Edition (BSID-II) was performed to define Mental developmental index (MDI) and Psychomotor developmental index (PDI). Results: The mean MDI and PDI scores were similar between the infants with and without transient hypothyroxinemia of prematurity (THOP) [79.9 ± 14.9 vs 70 ± 20.7, respectively (P=0.54); and 92.2 ± 16.4 vs 85.6 ± 18.9, respectively (P=0.68)]. After adjustment for gestational age and multiple prenatal, perinatal, and early and late neonatal variables, THOP was not associated with an increased risk of disabling cerebral palsy, or a reduction of MDI and PDI scores. Conclusions: THOP may not be an important cause of problems in neurologic and mental development detected at the age of 18 to 24 months’ corrected age.