Structural Brain Problems in Preterm Infants

The preterm⁄very low birthweight (VLBW) are at particularly high risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. The prevalence of cerebral palsy has decreased over the previous era. Recent advances in perinatal care decreased rates of major neurodevelopmental disability at preschool age. Recent data suggests that 85% of VLBW infants survive in the 2014 Korean Neonatal Network. Until recently, most of the studies reported in Korea were mainly focused on major disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, vision and hearing disabilities. However, as a result of long term observation of very small infants, it is now evident that a variety of different complications may commonly occur in preterm infants without major disabilities as follows: learning disability, borderline intelligence quotient (IQ), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, visuomotor integration disorder, executive dysfunction, and behavioral disorder. A follow-up study for at least 6 years revealed that 42% has minor disabilities including light mental retardation, language disorder, hearing abnormality, and ADHD [1]. Ultimate goals of thorough care of preterm infants include not only to decrease the death rate but also to increase the quality of life for survived, high risk infants. This review will discuss about the existing data of neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants, to improve understanding of the negative consequences of very preterm ⁄VLBW birth on brain development throughout childhood .