The Impact of Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Periventricular Leukomalacia on Mortality and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Very Preterm and Very Low Birthweight Infants: A Prospective Population-based Cohort Study.

Objective: To survey the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) by gestational age and to report the impact on mortality and neurodevelopmental outcome in very preterm/very low birthweight infants.

Study Design: This was a population-based cohort study of 1927 very preterm/very low birthweight infants born in 2014-2016 and admitted to Flemish neonatal intensive care units. Infants underwent standard follow-up assessment until 2 years corrected age with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and neurological assessments.

Parent-infant closeness after preterm birth and depressive symptoms: A longitudinal study.

Background: Preterm birth increases the risk for postpartum depression in both mothers and fathers, calling for strategies to alleviate and prevent depressive symptoms in parents of preterm infants. The aim of this study was to assess the association between early parent-infant closeness and later depressive symptoms among parents of preterm infants. We hypothesized that longer duration of closeness associate with fewer depressive symptoms in both parents.

Preterm birth during the COVID-19 pandemic: more, less, or just the same?

Objectives: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its mitigation measures have been associated with changes in preterm birth (PTB) incidences. The objective of this paper is to summarize and comment on the literature on COVID-19 and PTB and to compare PTB incidence between 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and 2020 (COVID-19) in three Belgian tertiary care hospitals.

Methods: A non-systematic review on COVID-19 and PTB was performed, and literature was summarized in a table.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very preterm and very-low-birthweight infants in a population-based clinical cohort with a definite perinatal treatment policy.

Background: With constant changes in neonatal care practices, recent information is valuable for healthcare providers and for parental counselling. The aim of the study was to describe the neurodevelopmental outcome in a cohort of very preterm (VPT)/very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants at 2 years corrected age (CA).

Material And Methods: This is a population-based cohort study of all infants born with a GA <31 weeks and/or BW < 1500 g between 2014 and 2016 admitted to the Flemish (Belgium) neonatal intensive care units.

Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency.

Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency (ISOD) is a life-threatening, autosomal recessive disease characterized by severe neurological impairment. As no long-term effective treatment is available, distinction from other treatable diseases, such as molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCD) type A, should be made. We reviewed 47 patients (45 previously reported in the literature).

Conservative treatment for patent ductus arteriosus in the preterm.

Background: A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is common among preterms, and prophylactic medical treatment has been advocated as the first-line approach. Conservative treatment may result in similar outcome, but without exposure to the harmful side effects of medication. A retrospective analysis revealed a ductal closure rate of 94% after conservative treatment with adjustment of ventilation (lowering the inspiratory time and increasing positive end expiratory pressure) and fluid restriction.