Growth and neurodevelopmental outcome of very low birthweight infants withnecrotizing enterocolitis

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) on neurodevelopmental outcome and growth. Neurodevelopmental outcome of 20 out of 22 suriviving very low birthweight infants (VLBW) diagnosed wi th NEC between 1992 and 1996 was compared with 40 control infants matched f or gestational age and year of admission. Follow-up studies were performed at 12 and 20 mo of corrected age. The German revision of the Griffiths' sca les was used for development assessment. Neurodevelopment was significantly delayed in infants with NEC at 12 mo (median general developmental quotien t: 90.0 vs 97.8; p = 0.04) and 20 mo (86.4 vs 97.7; p = 0.004) of age. Soma tic growth did not differ between infants with and without NEC. Fifty-five percent of infants suffering from NEC but only 22.5% of the infants without NEC were severely retarded (developmental quotient < -2 SD of a control gr oup of healthy newborns) at 20 mo of corrected age. Conclusion: Preterm infants developing NEC are at risk for neurodevelopment al impairment and need close neurodevelopmental follow-up for the first yea rs of life.