Neurodevelopmental disorders in children with an antecedent of subependymal/intraventricular hemorrhage at 3 years of age

Intraventricular and subependymal hemorrhage are common complications among preterm infants. The aim of the present study was to assess its implication in the neurodevelopment at 3 years of age.

Methods: Cerebral ultrasonography with evidence of any stage of intraventricular hemorrhage (Papille's classification) during neonatal period and a neurologic evaluation at 3 years of age were performed on each patient. One hundred twenty four patients were enrolled and assigned to four groups according the intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) stage: Grade 1, 14 patients, grade II, 84, grade III, 22, and grade IV nine patients.

Results: Morbility was similar for all groups; hydrocephalus was more frequent in group III (73%), and in group IV chronic pulmonary disease (77%) was more frequent. Forty five percent of the sample showed neurologic alterations with the greatest proportion in group IV (89%); OR for groups III and IV was 3.51 with a 95% confidence interval of (1.49, 8.28 p = 0.005). Grades III&IV showed lowest Terman Merril scores and grade IV scores were within the range of mental retardation. No statistical difference was found between grades at audition evaluation.

Conclusions: Neurologic alterations were greater in poorer grades of IVH, and risk will increment for grades III and IV. Associated pathologies for IVH grades III and IV were hydrocephalus and chronic pulmonary disease.