Search

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In infants born very preterm, monitoring of early brain growth could contribute to prediction of later neurodevelopment. Therefore, our aim was to investigate associations between 2 early cranial ultrasound markers (corpus callosum-fastigium and corpus callosum length) and neurodevelopmental outcome and the added value of both markers in the prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome based on neonatal risk factors and head circumference in very preterm infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study included 225 infants born at,30 weeks' gestational age, of whom 153 were without any brain injury on cranial ultrasound. Corpus callosum-fastigium and corpus callosum length and head circumference were measured at birth, 29 weeks' gestational age, transfer from the neonatal intensive care unit to a level II hospital, and 2 months' corrected age. We analyzed associations of brain markers and their growth with cognitive, motor, language, and behavioral outcome at 2 years' corrected age. RESULTS: In infants without brain injury, greater corpus callosum-fastigium length at 2 months was associated with better cognitive outcome. Corpus callosum length at 2 months was positively associated with cognitive, motor, and language outcome. Faster growth of the corpus callosum length between birth and 2 months was associated with better cognitive and motor function. Prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome based on neonatal risk factors with or without head circumference was significantly improved by adding corpus callosum length. CONCLUSIONS: Both corpus callosum-fastigium and corpus callosum length on cranial ultrasound are associated with neurodevelopmental outcome of very preterm infants without brain injury at 2 years, but only corpus callosum length shows the added clinical utility in predicting neurodevelopmental outcome.

BACKGROUND: Reduced fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler impedance is associated with hypoxemia in fetal growth restriction. It remains unclear as to whether this finding could be useful in timing delivery, especially in the third trimester. In this regard there is a paucity of evidence from prospective studies.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between middle cerebral artery Doppler impedance and its ratio with the umbilical artery in relation to neonatal and 2 year infant outcome in early fetal growth restriction (26(+0) -31(+6) weeks of gestation). Additionally we sought to explore which ratio is more informative for clinical use.STUDY DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis from the Trial of Randomized Umbilical and Fetal Flow in Europe, a prospective, multicenter, randomized management study on different antenatal monitoring strategies (ductus venosus Doppler changes and computerized cardiotocography short-term variation) in fetal growth restriction diagnosed between 26(+0) and 31(+6) weeks. We analyzed women with middle cerebral artery Doppler measurement at study entry and within 1 week before delivery and with complete postnatal follow-up (374 of 503). The primary outcome was survival without neurodevelopmental impairment at 2 years corrected for prematurity. Neonatal outcome was defined as survival until first discharge home without severe neonatal morbidity. Z-scores were calculated for middle cerebral artery pulsatility index and both umbilicocerebral and cerebroplacental ratios. Odds ratios of Doppler parameter Z-scores for neonatal and 2 year infant outcome were calculated by multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for gestational age and birthweight p50 ratio.RESULTS: Higher middle cerebral artery pulsatility index at inclusion but not within 1 week before delivery was associated with neonatal survival without severe morbidity (odds ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.52). Middle cerebral artery pulsatility index Z-score and umbilicocerebral ratio Z-score at inclusion were associated with 2 year survival with normal neurodevelopmental outcome (odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.72, and odds ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-0.99, respectively) as were gestation at delivery and birthweight p50 ratio (odds ratio, 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-1.66, and odds ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-2.60, respectively). When comparing cerebroplacental ratio against umbilicocerebral ratio, the incremental range of the cerebroplacental ratio tended toward zero, whereas the umbilicocerebral ratio tended toward infinity as the values became more abnormal.CONCLUSION: In a monitoring protocol based on ductus venosus and cardiotocography in early fetal growth restriction (26(+0) -31(+6) weeks of gestation), the impact of middle cerebral artery Doppler and its ratios on outcome is modest and less marked than birthweight and delivery gestation. It is unlikely that middle cerebral artery Doppler and its ratios are informative in optimizing the timing of delivery in fetal growth restriction before 32 weeks of gestation. The umbilicocerebral ratio allows for a better differentiation in the abnormal range than the cerebroplacental ratio.