Newborn head size and neurological status. Predictors of growth and development of low birth weight infants
S. J. Gross, N. Kosmetatos, C. T. Grimes and M. L. Williams
One hundred eighteen infants with birth weights of 2,000 g or less were
evaluated for growth and development at approximately 5 years of age.
Review of neonatal data indicated that head circumference less than the
tenth percentile at birth and abnormal neurological examination in the
newborn period were important predictors of outcome. Both of these factors
were associated with poor growth, later microcephaly, and neurological
deficit. In addition, neonatal microcephaly was substantially related to
poor intellectual attainment. Other associations were seen between
microcephaly at birth and intrauterine growth retardation, low Apgar score,
and low socioeconomic status, factors that also correlated with poor
outcome.
