RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Isolated acute non-cystic white matter injury in term infants presenting with neonatal encephalopathy
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP F158
OP F160
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2011-301505
VO 98
IS 2
A1 Barrett, Michael Joseph
A1 Donoghue, Veronica
A1 Mooney, Eoghan E
A1 Slevin, Marie
A1 Persaud, Thara
A1 Twomey, Eilish
A1 Ryan, Stephanie
A1 Laffan, Eoghan
A1 Twomey, Anne
YR 2013
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/98/2/F158.abstract
AB We discuss possible aetiological factors, MRI evolution of injury and neuro-developmental outcomes of neonatal encephalopathy (NE). Thirty-six consecutive infants diagnosed with NE were included. In this cohort, four infants (11%) were identified with injury predominantly in the deep white matter on MRI who were significantly of younger gestation, lower birthweight with higher Apgars at one and five minutes compared to controls. Placental high grade villitis of unknown aetiology (VUA) was identified in all four of these infants. Our hypothesis states VUA may induce white matter injury by causing a local inflammatory response and/or oxidative stress during the perinatal period. We underline the importance of continued close and systematic evaluation of all cases of NE, including examination of the placenta, in order to come to a better understanding of the clinical presentation, the patterns of brain injury and the underlying pathophysiological processes.