All issues > Volume 44(6); 2001

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2001;44(6):627-634. Published online June 15, 2001.

A Clinical Study for Risk Factors of Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia

Ji Eun JE Kim¹, Su Jin SJ Kim¹, Woo Taek WT Kim²

¹Department of Pediatrics, Collage of Medicine, Dongguk University, Kyeongju, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, Collage of Medicine, The Catholic University of Taegu, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: It is very important to study the individual risk factors which cause periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) and those which affect the process of cystic formation from liquefied periventricular white matter, in order to prevent and permit early diagnosis of cystic PVL that contributes to mortality and neurologic sequelaes in preterm infants. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the relationships between the perinatal clinical events and development of PVL and to investigate risk factors in development of cystic PVL.
Methods
: The medical records and serial cranial ultrasound scans were reviewed retrospectively for 71 infants less than 36 weeks of gestational age who were admitted to the NICU between January 1998 and June 1999 in Dongguk University Kyeong-ju Hospital.
Results
: Forty nine infants were diagnosed with PVL. At less than 32 weeks of gestational age, hyaline membrane disease, intraventricular hemorrhage, and hypercapnia were significantly increased in incidences of PVL. Especially, the intraventricular hemorrhage and the hypercapnia were risk factors for development of PVL. Cystic PVL was observed in 15 infants among 49 infants with PVL by serial cranial ultrasound scans. Maternal chorioamnionitis and intraventricular hemorrhage are increased risks for cystic change of PVL.
Conclusion
: It is helpful to analyze the risk factors for PVL and cystic PVL in order to predict or permit early diagnosis through serial cranial ultrasound scans in the preterm infants.

Keywords :Periventricular leukomalacia, Cystic PVL, Risk factors