GROWTH OF PRETERM INFANTS WITH CYSTIC PERIVENTRICULAR LEUKOMALACIA

Etiology of the high rates of growth failure in children with cerebral palsy (GP) remains unclear. The purpose of this studs was to evaluate the relation between growth failure in preterm infants with cystic pe riventricular leukomalacia (CPVL) and neonatal health complications. T he population consisted of all preterm infants (51) with a gestational age of <33 weeks who were admitted to the Children's Hospital of Buff alo from 1988 to 1993 and who had CPVL. Out of the 41 survivors with C PVL who were followed, 39 developed GP and 18 developed growth failure during infancy. At the time of greatest growth failure, the majority (72%) of infants had signs of undernutrition as defined by the Waterlo w (1972) classification. Oral feeding impairment was the sole risk fac tor for the occurrence of growth failure. Undernutrition appears to be important in the occurrence of growth failure in preterm infants with CPVL and CP.