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Neuropediatrics 1999; 30(6): 300-306
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-973509
Original articles

© Hippokrates Verlag GmbH Stuttgart

Unilateral Thalamic Lesions in Premature Infants: Risk Factors and Short-Term Prognosis

G. van Wezel-Meijler1 , 2 , T. Z. Hummel1 , J. Oosting3 , L. de Groot1 , 4 , L. T. L. Sie5 , J. Huisman6 , H. N. Lafeber1 , M. S. van der Knaap5
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision of Neonatology, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 2Subdivision of Neonatology, University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
  • 3Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 4Department of Movement Sciences, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 5Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision of Child Neurology, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 6Department of Medical Psychology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Publication History

Publication Date:
12 March 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess incidence, risk factors, clinical symptomatology and short-term outcome of unilateral thalamic lesions in preterm infants, as detected by ultrasound. Sixteen preterm infants, born after a gestational age of less than 35 weeks, with a unilateral thalamic lesion, but without additional significant cerebral lesions, were included. Their follow-up data were compared to those of a selected control group consisting of healthy premature infants. In addition, the neonatal clinical data of the patients with a thalamic lesion were compared to data of the healthy control group and of a general control group, consisting of a non-selected year-cohort of preterm infants. During the study period, the incidence of unilateral thalamic lesions was 5.3 % among preterm infants.

Ultrasound was not able to distinguish between hemorrhagic and ischemic lesions.

The infants with a unilateral thalamic lesion had a more complicated respiratory course and were ventilated significantly longer than infants without such a lesion. The infants with a thalamic lesion had disturbances in tone, persisting throughout infancy, while the healthy control group showed only transient disturbances in tone.

Key words

Premature infant - Thalamic lesion - Ultrasound - MRI