Early prediction of neurologic outcome after perinatal depression

Evaluation is presented of whether or not a detailed neuromotor examination at 3 months of age could predict later neurologic abnormalities among term infants with perinatal depression, In a prospective cohort, infants were n eurologically evaluated at 3 and 12 months. Infants were scored from 0 to 5 according to a nea neuromotor scoring system. The neuromotor score at 3 mo nths (NMS-3) was compared with the NMS at 12 months (NMS-12). Seventy-four infants were enrolled in the study; nine were lost to follow-up, and five d ied before reaching I year. Sixty infants were examined (neurologic abnorma lities = 52%, normal = 48% at 1 year), The NMS-3 correlated strongly with t he NMS-12 and the results of the 12-month neurologic examination, All infan ts with a NMS-3 of 5 had neurologic abnormalities at 1 pear. Infants with n eonatal seizures had a significantly increased risk of developmental abnorm alities at 1 year. Eighteen infants exhibited transient abnormalities. Usin g a simple scoring system, the results of the early neurologic examinations correlated strongly with outcome among term infants with perinatal depress ion. A subgroup of infants had transient abnormalities. These findings sugg est that in term high-risk infants, the 1-year neurologic outcome can be pr edicted at 3 months of age using these parameters. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Sci ence Inc. All rights reserved.