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White matter microstructure is influenced by extremely preterm birth and neonatal respiratory factors

White matter microstructure is influenced by extremely preterm birth and neonatal respiratory factors
White matter microstructure is influenced by extremely preterm birth and neonatal respiratory factors
AIM: To investigate whether prematurity per se or perinatal risk factors explain altered brain structure after preterm birth, in extremely preterm (EPT) infants without focal brain lesions.

METHODS: A population-based cohort of 58 EPT infants (gestational age GA <27+0 weeks) was examined with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging at term-equivalent age, and dcompared to 14 term-born controls. Associations of diffusion measures with prematurity and neonatal risk factors were explored. Data were analysed with Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) for whole brain analysis and regions-of-interest (ROI) analysis.

RESULTS: Whole-brain analyses showed lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean diffusivity (MD) in several white matter tracts in the preterms, which was essentially confirmed by ROI analyses. Within the preterm GA range (23+0-26+6 weeks), GA at birth was not significantly associated with diffusion measures. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia predicted lower FA in the corpus callosum and right inferior longitudinal fasciculus; mechanical ventilation > two days was predictive of higher MD in the right external capsule.

CONCLUSION: White matter microstructure is influenced by preterm birth and by neonatal respiratory factors, whereas the degree of prematurity within the EPT range appears to be of less importance.
brain, diffusion, infant, preterm birth, white matter, neonatal respiratory factors
0803-5253
Alexandrou, Georgios
318999cf-fff1-4bd1-89a8-c214a41c5ce3
Mårtensson, Gustaf
cfd74a15-9028-4eb4-9b01-e5ec5ded9e91
Skiöld, Beatrice
0a961182-6fd0-4221-ac53-58be7e475829
Blennow, Mats
14d9f9ca-4587-4372-b964-463355551e31
Ådén, Ulrika
4d84a0ab-ef6d-4cdc-9653-913f1c4f79f3
Vollmer, Brigitte
044f8b55-ba36-4fb2-8e7e-756ab77653ba
Alexandrou, Georgios
318999cf-fff1-4bd1-89a8-c214a41c5ce3
Mårtensson, Gustaf
cfd74a15-9028-4eb4-9b01-e5ec5ded9e91
Skiöld, Beatrice
0a961182-6fd0-4221-ac53-58be7e475829
Blennow, Mats
14d9f9ca-4587-4372-b964-463355551e31
Ådén, Ulrika
4d84a0ab-ef6d-4cdc-9653-913f1c4f79f3
Vollmer, Brigitte
044f8b55-ba36-4fb2-8e7e-756ab77653ba

Alexandrou, Georgios, Mårtensson, Gustaf, Skiöld, Beatrice, Blennow, Mats, Ådén, Ulrika and Vollmer, Brigitte (2013) White matter microstructure is influenced by extremely preterm birth and neonatal respiratory factors. Acta Paediatrica. (doi:10.1111/apa.12445). (PMID:24118089)

Record type: Article

Abstract

AIM: To investigate whether prematurity per se or perinatal risk factors explain altered brain structure after preterm birth, in extremely preterm (EPT) infants without focal brain lesions.

METHODS: A population-based cohort of 58 EPT infants (gestational age GA <27+0 weeks) was examined with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging at term-equivalent age, and dcompared to 14 term-born controls. Associations of diffusion measures with prematurity and neonatal risk factors were explored. Data were analysed with Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) for whole brain analysis and regions-of-interest (ROI) analysis.

RESULTS: Whole-brain analyses showed lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean diffusivity (MD) in several white matter tracts in the preterms, which was essentially confirmed by ROI analyses. Within the preterm GA range (23+0-26+6 weeks), GA at birth was not significantly associated with diffusion measures. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia predicted lower FA in the corpus callosum and right inferior longitudinal fasciculus; mechanical ventilation > two days was predictive of higher MD in the right external capsule.

CONCLUSION: White matter microstructure is influenced by preterm birth and by neonatal respiratory factors, whereas the degree of prematurity within the EPT range appears to be of less importance.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 4 October 2013
Keywords: brain, diffusion, infant, preterm birth, white matter, neonatal respiratory factors
Organisations: Clinical & Experimental Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 359905
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/359905
ISSN: 0803-5253
PURE UUID: 578ffd41-2728-49a7-af72-230949a34cf6
ORCID for Brigitte Vollmer: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4088-5336

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 15 Nov 2013 14:16
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:36

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Contributors

Author: Georgios Alexandrou
Author: Gustaf Mårtensson
Author: Beatrice Skiöld
Author: Mats Blennow
Author: Ulrika Ådén

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