Neurocognitive test profiles of extremely low birth weight five-year-old children differ according to neuromotor status.

The neurocognitive outcome of children born with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) is highly variable due to the complexity of morbidity. So far, no study has compared comprehensive neuropsychological test profiles in groups with different neuromotor status. In a national cohort of ELBW children neuropsychological test profiles were assessed in 4 groups defined according to a neurological examination at 5 years of age: normal neuromotor status (N = 56), motor coordination problems (N = 32), multiple subtle neuromotor signs including both motor coordination problems and deviant reflexes (N = 20), and spastic diplegia (N = 12).

Obstetric and perinatal outcome and preliminary results of development of children born after in vitro maturation of oocytes.

Background: Careful follow-up of children born after in vitro maturation (IVM) of human oocytes is essential because the technique is still very new.

Methods: Obstetric and perinatal data were collected from all deliveries after IVM treatment during 1999-2004. The growth and development of IVM children was assessed at 6, 12 and 24 months using Muenchener Funktionelle Entwicklungs Diagnostik and Bayley Scales of Infants.

Neurodevelopmental outcome at 5 years of age of a national cohort of extremely low birth weight infants who were born in 1996-1997.

Objective: Increasing survival of extremely low birth weight (ELBW; birth weight < 1000 g) infants raises a concern regarding the risks of adverse long-term outcome such as cognitive dysfunction. Few studies have reported long-term follow-up of representative regional cohorts. The objective of this study was to assess the 5-year outcome of a prospectively followed national ELBW infant cohort.

Is early occupational therapy in extremely preterm infants of benefit in the long run?

A total of 126 infants with extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g) were enrolled in a prospective case-control study in order to examine the effect of occupational therapy based on sensory integration (SI) and neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) on neurological development. The children were grouped as matched pairs on the basis of determined developmental risk scores assessed at the age of 3 months. The intervention children had a 6-month period of weekly occupational therapy from the corrected age of 6-12 months.