Predicting neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants by standardized neurological assessments at 6 and 12 months corrected age.

Aim: Neurodevelopmental impairment in very preterm infants can be reasonably diagnosed by 18-24 months corrected age, whereas the predictive value of earlier assessments is debated. We hypothesized that neurological findings at 6 and 12 months indicative of subsequent cerebral palsy predict 18-24 months' neurodevelopmental impairment.

Methods: Neurodevelopmental examinations (Griffiths scales) at 20 months of age in 561 preterm infants (birth weight <1 500 g) were compared with results of standardized neurological examinations (Early Motor Pattern Profile; EMPP) and Griffiths scales at 6 (n = 451) and 12 months (n = 496) corrected age.

Urinary S-100B concentrations in term and preterm infants at risk for brain damage.

Background: Elevated serum concentrations of S-100B, a 21-kDa protein expressed in astroglial cells, has been used to assess cerebral damage after head trauma, infection, ischemia, and perinatal asphyxia.

Objective: As S-100B is eliminated by the kidneys, we investigated the feasibility of measuring S-100B in urine of newborns with severe perinatal asphyxia, and in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants at risk for neurodevelopmental impairment.

Methods: We first analyzed urine samples of 8 term or near-term newborns without major medical problems, followed by urine samples of 2 term newborns with severe birth asphyxia, and finally urine samples of 8 VLBW (gestational age 24-28 weeks) infants collected every 4 h for up to 10 days.

Actigraphic monitoring of the activity-rest behavior of preterm and full-term infants at 20 months of age.

Differences in the activity-rest behavior of preterm and full-term infants provide an important contribution to the analysis of the ontogeny of circadian rhythms. In this study, we recorded the activity-rest behavior of 17 preterm and 8 full-term infants at the approximate age of 20 months over an average of 10 days by means of actigraphic monitoring (Actiwatch, Cambridge Neurotechnology Ltd.).

Homozygous and double heterozygous Factor V Leiden and Factor II G20210A genotypes predispose infants to thromboembolism but are not associated with an increase of foetal loss.

Prospective and controlled data about the individual risk profile in asymptomatic children with homozygous or double heterozygous risk genotypes for Factor V Leiden (FVL) and factor II (FII) G20210A are currently unavailable. The systematic and prospective observational study presented here was designed to determine the impact of the homozygous and double heterozygous FVL and FII G20210A genotypes on the prenatal and postnatal risk profiles of affected children. Risk infants and heterozygous controls were identified by screening of 85,304 neonates.

Predictive value of brain-specific proteins in serum for neurodevelopmental outcome after birth asphyxia.

Brain-specific proteins have been used to detect cerebral injury after birth asphyxia. Previous investigations suggest that serum protein S-100beta, brain-specific creatine kinase (CK-BB), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) are capable of identifying patients with a risk of developing hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Whether detection of elevated serum concentrations of these proteins reflects long-term neurodevelopmental impairment remains to be investigated.