TRANSITORY NEUROLOGICAL FINDINGS IN A POPULATION OF AT RISK INFANTS

Two-hundred fifty infants with high and no risk history transitory neu rological findings (TNF) were examined during the first year of life. The neurological situation and the developmental progress were reconsi dered in these children at 2.5-4.5 and 5-7 years of age. TNF were diag nosed mainly during the first two trimesters. Hyperirritability and as ymmetries resolved to about 70% during the first half of the first yea r of life. In contrast, isolated central hypotonia resolved over a muc h longer period. No correlations of distinct types of TNF could be fou nd with VLBW and LBW-infants, with fullterm infants, with birthweights , nor with risk factors. Children who developed spastic CP presented p ermanent hypertonia beside other specific neurological symptoms during the second half of the first year of life. Children with lasting non- spastic handicaps showed permanent hypotonia combined with other neuro logical abnormalities and symptoms of psychomotor retardation, which e volved also during the second half of the first year. From these resul ts the question arises: which parts of TNF are essentially neurobiolog ical findings indicating processes of transformation of the sensory mo tor system from non-intentional fetal to intentional motor behaviour o f early infancy. TNF, then, should no longer be looked at as symptoms of pathological value only.