Follow-up clinico e neurofunzionale in un gruppo di neonati pretermine con emorragia intraventricolare : outcome a due anni e sensibilità diagnostica delle indagini neuroradiologiche

This study wants to evaluate in the preterm newborn which kind of cerebral lesion is more linked to a long-term negative outcome and PCI development, and which neuroradiological exam is more sensitive and predictive and therefore better for the follow-up of these patients. Aim and methods 30 preterm newborns divided into two groups, one with IVH and one with IVH and PVL or PEI associated, received a two year follow-up with serial cerebral ultrasound, MRI and Bayley scale. Results The incidence of PCI in the isolated-IVH group was 14,28% while it was 75% in the PVL-PEI associated group; also, Bayley results were lower in the second group too. Conclusions These data suggest that white matter lesions are more linked with PCI than isolated IVH and represents today the most important neonatal disease with long-term negative outcome. The best neuroradiological technique to identify white matter lesions is MRI, while ultrasound is less sensitive and accurate, even thought it’s the most accessible, less expensive tool and so it represent the gold standard for serial screening.