Maternal PlGF and umbilical Dopplers predict pregnancy outcomes at diagnosis of early-onset fetal growth restriction.

BACKGROUNDSevere, early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) causes significant fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. Predicting the outcome of affected pregnancies at the time of diagnosis is difficult, thus preventing accurate patient counseling. We investigated the use of maternal serum protein and ultrasound measurements at diagnosis to predict fetal or neonatal death and 3 secondary outcomes: fetal death or delivery at or before 28+0 weeks, development of abnormal umbilical artery (UmA) Doppler velocimetry, and slow fetal growth.

Clinical value of cortical bursting in preterm infants with intraventricular haemorrhage.

Background: In healthy preterm infants, cortical burst rate and temporal dynamics predict important measures such as brain growth. We hypothesised that in preterm infants with germinal matrix-intraventricular haemorrhage (GM-IVH), cortical bursting could provide prognostic information.

Aims: We determined how cortical bursting was influenced by the injury, and whether this was related to developmental outcome.

Neonatal outcomes following early fetal growth restriction: a subgroup analysis of the EVERREST study.

Objective: To quantify the risks of mortality, morbidity and postnatal characteristics associated with extreme preterm fetal growth restriction (EP-FGR).

Design: The EVERREST (Do s ascular endothelial growth factor gene therapy saf ly imp ove outcome in seve e arly-onset fetal growth re riction?) prospective multicentre study of women diagnosed with EP-FGR (singleton, estimated fetal weight (EFW) <3rd percentile, <600 g, 20-26 weeks of gestation). The UK subgroup of EP-FGR infants (<36 weeks) were sex-matched and gestation-matched to appropriate for age (AGA) infants born in University College London Hospital (1:2 design, EFW 25th-75th percentile).

Prognostic value of neonatal EEG following therapeutic hypothermia in survivors of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Objective: Early prediction of neurological deficits following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) may help to target support. Neonatal animal models suggest that recovery following hypoxia-ischemia depends upon cortical bursting. To test whether this holds in human neonates, we correlated the magnitude of cortical bursting during recovery (≥postnatal day 3) with neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Developmental trajectories of infants born at less than 30 weeks' gestation on the Bayley-III Scales.

Objective: To describe the cognitive, language and motor developmental trajectories of children born very preterm and to identify perinatal factors that predict the trajectories.

Design: Data from a cohort of 1142 infants born at <30 weeks' gestation who were prospectively assessed on the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition (Bayley-III) at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months corrected age, were analysed using the Super Imposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR) growth curve analysis model.

Main Outcome Measures: Developmental trajectory SITAR models for Bayley-III cognitive, language (receptive and expressive communication subscales) and motor (fine and gross motor subscales) scores.