SERUM CREATINE-KINASE-BB CONCENTRATION IN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT BABIES WITH POSTHEMORRHAGIC VENTRICULAR DILATATION

The association between measurements of lateral ventricle dilatation determined by serial ultrasound and brain specific creatine-kinase isoenzyme patterns (CK-BB) is studied in 60 very low birth weight preterm neonates of 1,500 g birth weight or 32 weeks gestation or less. The patients were divided into three groups according to cranial ultrasonographic findings; Group A (n = 20) had isolated peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH);group B (n = 20) had PIVH and dilated ventricles (VM), group C (n = 20) were normal matched preterms and formed the control group. Compared to control babies or those with isolated PIVH, high serum concentrations of CK-BB were observed after birth in babies with persistent dilated ventricles at two weeks postnatal age (p < 0.01). No difference was found between CK-BB levels of babies with isolated PIVH and control group (p > 0.05). We suggest that an elevated CK-BB value is found in babies with persistent ventricular dilatation suggesting severe and diffuse brain damage after post-hemorrhagic ventriculomegaly (VM).