Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Dergisi
2009 , Vol 52 , Num 3
Long-term follow-up of very low birth weight infants at Hacettepe University İhsan Doğramacı Children’s Hospital during 2003-2006
Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Pediatri Doçenti1,Pediatri Öğretim Görevlisi2,Pediatri Uzmanı3,Pediatri Profesörü4,
Scientific and technological advances in perinatal medicine have led to increased
rates of survival and long term morbidities in very low birth weight (VLBW)
infants. Long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up has become an important tool
for the evaluation of the impact of neonatal intensive care interventions and
therapies. In the literature, the incidences of neurodevelopmental impairments
have been reported to be increased in VLBW infants. In this study, we
aimed to define the incidences of long-term neurodevelopmental and growth
impairments at corrected ages of 12-18 months in the VLBW population
of our neonatal intensive care unit during the period 2003-2006. Standard
neurological examination and Denver Developmental Screening Test II were
used for neurodevelopmental evaluation. A total of 128 infants could be
included in the study, which comprised 40% of the entire VLBW population
during the above period. Growth failure was detected in 12 (9.4%) infants.
The majority of the infants (112, 87.5%) were neurologically normal, while
12 infants (9.4%) developed cerebral palsy. Maternal chorioamnionitis was the
highest risk factor for the development of cerebral palsy (OR 18.3, %95 CI 3.8-
88.2). In the Denver Developmental Screening Test, 16 infants (12.5%) showed
gross-motor abnormalities, while 12 (9.4%) had fine-motor abnormalities, 9
(7.0%) had personal-social problems and 10 (7.8%) had verbal problems.
Retinopathy of prematurity was detected in 16 infants (12.5%), while 6 infants
(4.7%) had hearing impairment. The incidences of all neurodevelopmental and
neurosensorial problems were comparable to those reported previously in the
literature. However, although the incidences of major neurodevelopmental
impairments in VLBW infants of our hospital are not high, longer and detailed
follow-up of this population until adolescence or even adulthood should be
achieved in order to obtain a more comprehensive analysis.
Anahtar Kelimeler :
çok düşük doğum ağırlıklı bebek, nörolojik ve gelişimsel prognoz, izlem