Cerebral blood flow (CBF) studies have provided some insight into pathophys
iological mechanisms of cerebral damage in newborn children; their value in
predicting brain damage, however, remains elusive. The purpose of our stud
y was to evaluate the role of CBF measurements in predicting developmental
outcome in preterm neonates at 18 months. Preterm babies with a gestational
age of less than 34 weeks and a birth weight of less than 1500 g (n = 71)
were enrolled in the study. CBF was measured by the noninvasive intravenous
Xe-133 method on three different occasions, We classified our measurements
into three groups: depending on the time when performed group 1: between 2
and 36 h (n = 52); group 2. between 36 and 108 h (n = 44); group 3: betwee
n 108 and 240 h (n = 41). At the age of 18 months neurodevelopment testing
was performed according to the Bayley mental and motor scales. Surviving in
fants had a higher mean CBF over the three groups than non surviving childr
en (15.2 +/- 3.5 ml/100 g brain tissue/min vs 13.0 +/- 2.1 ml/100 g brain t
issue/min, P < 0.05). There was no correlation of CBF with mental or motor
development in our study population in either of the three groups.
Conclusion In preterm infants basal CBF is higher in surviving than in non
surviving Infants, but there is no correlation of resting CBF and later neu
rological outcome.