Postnatal characteristics and outcome of 18 preterm twins with cystic PVL compared with their 18 co-twins without cystic PVL
| Characteristic | PVL group | Controls | p Value | Relative risk (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data are presented as n (%) or mean (SD). | ||||
| *Pco2 values < 30 mm Hg for at least one hour. | ||||
| ns, Not significant; nc, not calculated; HIE, hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy; PDA, persistent ductus arteriosus; RDS, respiratory distress syndrome; I/PVH, intra/periventricular haemorrhage; PHH, posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus; MNA, minor neurological abnormalities; PVL, periventricular leucomalacia. | ||||
| Asphyxia | 0 | 3 (17%) | nc | – |
| HIE | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Early onset sepsis | 5 (28%) | 4 (22%) | ns | – |
| Arterial hypotension | 1 (6%) | 2 (11%) | ns | – |
| PDA | 6 (33%) | 5(28%) | ns | – |
| Hyperbilirubinaemia | 6 (33%) | 6 (33%) | ns | – |
| RDS | 9 (50%) | 10 (56%) | ns | – |
| Days on ventilator | 6.9 (10.1) | 7.4 (8.7) | ns | – |
| Hypocarbia* | 5/17 (29%) | 1/17 (6%) | 0.038 | 1.944 (1.113 to 3.396) |
| Apnoeas | 12 (67%) | 8 (44%) | 0.09 | 1.600 (0.774 to 3.309) |
| Neonatal seizures | 5 (28%) | 2 (11%) | 0.1 | 1.607 (0.856 to 3.019) |
| Cerebral infarction | 0 | 1 (6%) | nc | – |
| I/PVH | 8 (44%) | 7 (39%) | nc | – |
| PHH | 0 | 1 (6%) | nc | |
| Follow up (months) | 52 (31) | 29 (27) | nc | – |
| Normal development | 0 | 8 (62%) | < 0.001 | ∞ |
| MNA | 2 (12%) | 2 (15%) | nc | – |
| Developmental delay | 2 (12%) | 1 (8%) | nc | – |
| Mental retardation | 8 (44%) | 0 | < 0.001 | ∞ |
| Cerebral palsy | 13/17 (76%) | 2/13 (15%) | < 0.001 | 3.250 (1.372 to 7.699) |