Corpus callosum long-term biometry in very preterm children related to cognitive and motor outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The corpus callosum (CC) is suggested as an indirect biomarker of white matter volume, which is often affected in preterm birth. However, diagnosing mild white matter injury is challenging. METHODS: We studied 124 children born preterm (mean age: 8.4 ± 1.1 years), using MRI to assess CC measurements and cognitive/motor outcomes based on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-V (WPPSI-V) and Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2). RESULTS: Children with normal outcomes exhibited greater height (10.2 ± 2.1 mm vs. 9.4 ± 2.3 mm; p = 0.01) and fractional anisotropy at splenium (895[680-1000] vs 860.5[342-1000]) and total CC length (69.1 ± 4.8 mm vs. 67.3 ± 5.1 mm; p = 0.02) compared to those with adverse outcomes. All measured CC areas were smaller in the adverse outcome group. Models incorporating posterior CC measurements demonstrated the highest specificity (83.3% Sp, AUC: 0.65) for predicting neurological outcomes. CC length and splenium height were the only linear measurements associated with manual dexterity and total MABC-2 score while both the latter and genu were related with Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient. CONCLUSIONS: CC biometry in children born very preterm at school-age is associated with outcomes and exhibits a specific subregion alteration pattern. The posterior CC may serve as an important neurodevelopmental biomarker in very preterm infants. IMPACT: The corpus callosum has the potential to serve as a reliable and easily measurable biomarker of white matter integrity in very preterm children. Estimating diffuse white matter injury in preterm infants using conventional MRI sequences is not always conclusive. The biometry of the posterior part of the corpus callosum is associated with cognitive and certain motor outcomes at school age in children born very preterm. Length and splenium measurements seem to serve as reliable biomarkers for assessing neurological outcomes in this population.

Alteraciones en resonancia magnética asociadas a tratamiento con vigabatrina / Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities associated with vigabatrin therapy

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Ischemic stroke caused by arterial dissection of the internal carotid artery diagnosed by Doppler sonography in a newborn.

Internal carotid arterial dissection is a rare and probably underestimated cause of neonatal stroke. We report a case of neonatal stroke underscoring the role of Doppler sonography of the intracranial arteries for the diagnosis and follow-up tool.

Monitoring of Blood Pressure is not Enough to Avoid Neonatal Postoperative Encephalopathy.

Background Neonatal encephalopathy with seizures after general anesthesia not occurring in infants undergoing cardiac or major neurosurgery is very uncommon. An ischemic origin due to cerebral hypoperfusion from perioperative hypotension has been suggested, but there is a lack of a consensus definition for intraoperatory hypotension in neonates. Case Report We report the first case of neonatal encephalopathy with seizures in a neonate with anorectal malformation. He underwent a colostomy with caudal anesthesia combined with light general anesthesia. Intraoperative systolic blood pressure and mean blood pressure values were considered normal. Thirty-two hours after the intervention, the patient presented electroclinical seizures. Diffusion-weighted imaging showed bilateral involvement with reduced diffusivity in the watershed areas of the middle cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery. Conclusion Perioperative monitoring of blood pressure is not enough in neonatal surgery. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging should be considered in infants with noncardiac congenital anomalies after neonatal surgery and long-term follow-up is required.

Prognostic Value of the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Newborns with Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy Treated with Therapeutic Hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantification has been proven to be of prognostic value in term newborns with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) who were treated under normothermia. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic value of ADC in standardized brain regions in neonates with HIE who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 54 term newborns who were admitted with HIE and treated with TH. All magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed between days 4 and 6 of life, and ADC values were measured in 13 standardized regions of the brain. At 2 years of age we explored whether ADC values were related to composite outcomes (death or survival with abnormal neurodevelopment). RESULTS: The severity of HIE is inversely related to ADC values in different brain regions. We found that lower ADC values in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), the thalami, the semioval centre, and frontal and parietal white matter were related to adverse outcomes. ADC values in the PLIC and thalami are good predictors of adverse outcomes (AUC 0.86 and 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: Low ADC values in the PLIC, thalamus, semioval centre, and frontal and parietal white matter in full-term infants with HIE treated with TH were associated with a poor outcome.