CEREBRAL MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING AND MENTAL AND MOTOR FUNCTION OF VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT CHILDREN AT 6 YEARS OF AGE

In this follow-up study, 20 of a geographically based year cohort of 3 1 surviving non-disabled VLBW (birthweight < 1500 g) children were exa mined at six years of age. The aim of the study was to relate cerebral MRI findings to neuro-development in these non-disabled children at s ix years of age. All MRI scans were evaluated for myelination pattern, periventricular gliosis, ventricular dilation and cortical atrophy. T he Peabody motor test and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) were used in the evaluation of motor, mental and perceptual function. A diagnosis of attention deficit disorder with hy peractivity was made based on the examiner's impression of the child d uring the examination and based on the parent's history. We found that ten (50 %) of the children had periventricular gliosis, mainly in cen trum semiovale (CS) (nine children) and in central occipital white mat ter (COW) (six children). Gliosis in CS was related to lower scores on the Peabody gross motor test for locomotion, indicating involvement o f corticospinal tracts. Additional gliosis in COW was related to both fine motor and gross motor impairments. We speculate that this indicat es damage to both motor and visual pathways, affecting eye-hand coordi nation and balance function. No relationship between MRI deviations at six years and mental function based on performance, verbal and total IQ scores was found. However, there was a significant relationship bet ween periventricular gliosis in COW and CS and low scores on the WPPSI performance subtests: Picture completion test and Block design test. This may indicate visual and spatial perception problems, caused by da mage to posterior visual pathways and occipito-thalamic tracts dealing with visuo-motor integration.