Purpose: The long-term impact of low-grade germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH) on brain perfusion has not been fully investigated. We aimed to compare cortical and deep gray matter (GM) cerebral blood flow (CBF) obtained with pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL), among preterm neonates with and without low-grade GMH-IVH and full-term controls. Methods: 3T-pCASL examinations of 9 healthy full-term neonates (mean gestational age 38.5 weeks, range 38–39) and 28 preterm neonates studied at term-equivalent age were analyzed. Eighteen preterm neonates presented normal brain MRI (mean gestational age 30.50 weeks, range 29–31) and 10 low-grade GMH-IVH according to Volpe’s grading system (mean gestational age 32 weeks, range 28–34). A ROI-based mean CBF quantification was performed in 5 cortical (frontal, parietal, temporal, insula, occipital), and 4 subcortical GM regions (caudate, putamen, pallidum, thalamus) for each cerebral hemisphere. CBF differences were explored using a nonparametric analysis of covariance. Results: Low-grade GMH-IVH hemispheres showed consistently lower CBF in all GM regions when compared with healthy preterm neonates, after controlling the confounding effect of gestational age, postmenstrual age, and birth weight P <.001, η2 =.394. No significant differences were observed between neonates with low-grade GMH and full-term controls. Healthy preterm neonates showed significantly higher CBF than full-term controls in parietal (P =.032), temporal (P =.016), and occipital cortex (P =.024), and at level of thalamus (P =.023) and caudate nucleus (P =.014). Conclusion: Low-grade GMH-IVH is associated with lower CBF in posterior cortical and subcortical gray matter regions in preterm neonates, suggesting regional vulnerability of these developing brain structures.

Regional impairment of cortical and deep gray matter perfusion in preterm neonates with low-grade germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage: an ASL study

Tortora D.;Parodi A.;Massirio P.;Ramenghi L. A.;Rossi A.
2020-01-01

Abstract

Purpose: The long-term impact of low-grade germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH) on brain perfusion has not been fully investigated. We aimed to compare cortical and deep gray matter (GM) cerebral blood flow (CBF) obtained with pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL), among preterm neonates with and without low-grade GMH-IVH and full-term controls. Methods: 3T-pCASL examinations of 9 healthy full-term neonates (mean gestational age 38.5 weeks, range 38–39) and 28 preterm neonates studied at term-equivalent age were analyzed. Eighteen preterm neonates presented normal brain MRI (mean gestational age 30.50 weeks, range 29–31) and 10 low-grade GMH-IVH according to Volpe’s grading system (mean gestational age 32 weeks, range 28–34). A ROI-based mean CBF quantification was performed in 5 cortical (frontal, parietal, temporal, insula, occipital), and 4 subcortical GM regions (caudate, putamen, pallidum, thalamus) for each cerebral hemisphere. CBF differences were explored using a nonparametric analysis of covariance. Results: Low-grade GMH-IVH hemispheres showed consistently lower CBF in all GM regions when compared with healthy preterm neonates, after controlling the confounding effect of gestational age, postmenstrual age, and birth weight P <.001, η2 =.394. No significant differences were observed between neonates with low-grade GMH and full-term controls. Healthy preterm neonates showed significantly higher CBF than full-term controls in parietal (P =.032), temporal (P =.016), and occipital cortex (P =.024), and at level of thalamus (P =.023) and caudate nucleus (P =.014). Conclusion: Low-grade GMH-IVH is associated with lower CBF in posterior cortical and subcortical gray matter regions in preterm neonates, suggesting regional vulnerability of these developing brain structures.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11567/1026138
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