Early motor and mental development in very preterm infants with chronic lung disease

Background-The increased incidence of neurological deviations in preterm in fants with chronic lung disease (CLD) has been Linked to severe brain haemo rrhage (intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH)) and periventricular leucomalaci a (PVL) rather than to CLD per se. Aim-To evaluate whether CLD without concomitant brain lesions constitutes a risk factor for adverse developmental outcome. Method-Forty three very low birthweight infants with CLD, but without IVH o r PVL, and 43 very low birthweight infants without CLD, IVH, or PVL were ev aluated at 5 and 10 months of corrected age using the movement assessment o f infants (MAI) scale. The Griffiths' developmental test was carried out at 10 months of age. Results-The overall motor assessments (MAI) in infants with CLD and control s were not significantly different. However, differences were observed in t he execution of volitional movements (IMAI), the total sum, hand and eye co ordination, and perception and intelligence (measured by the performance sc ale of the Griffiths' test). Conclusions-CLD has a deleterious effect on the control of hand and eye coo rdination and on perception and intelligence. These results thus re-emphasi se the necessity for careful neurodevelopmental follow up of infants with C LD whether or not they suffered IVH or PVL.