Developmental Implications of Head Growth Following Intracranial Hemorrhage

Abstract

This study examined the association between head size at birth, discharge, and 1 year and developmental outcome at 1 year in preterm infants, with and without intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) or associated periventricular echodensities (PVE). The data indicated that most sick preterm infants with small heads at discharge achieved appropriate head sizes at 1 year. Analyses of the 1-year mental and motor performances of 125 subjects revealed that for subjects who did not develop ICH, appropriate head sizes at birth and discharge were associated with good developmental outcome, whereas infants with small heads (< two standard deviations below the mean for age) before hospital discharge were more likely to show poorer developmental outcome at 1 year. For subjects with ICH, birth and discharge head circumference were not predictive of 1-year developmental status; however, normal head size at 1 year was associated with better outcome. This was true for children with transient PVE as well. However, persistent periventricular echodensities were associated with both mental and motor deficits at 1 year, regardless of head growth.