NEUROSENSORY OUTCOME AND GROWTH AT 3 YEARS IN EXTREMELY LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS - FOLLOW-UP RESULTS FROM THE SWEDISH NATIONAL PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

A prospective national investigation comprising 633 extremely low birt hweight (ELBW) infants born alive in the 2-y period 1990-1992 with a b irthweight of less than or equal to 1000 g and gestational age of grea ter than or equal to 23 completed weeks was conducted regarding neuros ensory outcome and growth, Three-hundred and sixty-two (98%) surviving ELBW infants were assessed at a median age of 36 months, using a spec ially designed protocol. At follow-up, mean height, weight and head ci rcumference in both boys and girls were significantly lower than the r eference values. The incidence of cerebral palsy was 7% among all chil dren and 14%, 10% and 3% in children born at 23-24, 25-26 and greater than or equal to 27 gestational weeks, respectively. At least one obvi ous handicap was present in 14%, 9% and 3% of these three groups of ch ildren, respectively. After adjustment for gestational age, a signific antly increased risk of handicap was found in children with intraventr icular haemorrhage grade greater than or equal to 3 and/or periventric ular leucomalacia and in children with retinopathy of prematurity stag e greater than or equal to 3. The results show that more than 90% of E LBW children born at greater than or equal to 25 completed gestational weeks were without neurosensory handicap at 36 months of corrected ag e. In infants born at 23-24 weeks of gestation, both survival and long -term outcome were less favourable.