Neurodevelopmental outcome of term infants with intraventricular hemorrhage
L. J. Jocelyn and O. G. Casiro
Department of Pediatrics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Intraventricular hemorrhage and its sequelae have been reported
infrequently in term infants. We investigated the outcome of
intraventricular hemorrhage in 15 term infants born between 1982 and 1988.
One infant (7%) died. Complications of pregnancy were identified in seven
mothers (47%). Age at diagnosis ranged from in utero to 28 days. Clinical
presentation included feeding intolerance, fever, jaundice, irritability,
and seizures. Severity of hemorrhage was of prognostic value. Of the four
children with grade 4 hemorrhage, one died and the three survivors were
severely handicapped. Overall, nine (64%) of 14 survivors had no or mild
handicap. Perinatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia emerged as the single most
important cause of severe hemorrhage and poor outcome. Identification and
treatment of these infants must begin in utero if we are to prevent
intraventricular hemorrhage and its complications in this group of
patients.
