Brain volumes in adult survivors of very low birth weight: A sibling-controlled study

Objectives. To establish whether adults who were born very low birth weight (VLBW) show altered volumes of certain brain structures. Methods. Unmatched case-control study was conducted of 33 individuals from a cohort of VLBW (<1500g) infants who were born between 1966 and 1977 and 18 of their normal birth weight siblings. Whole brain, gray matter, ventricular, corpus callosum, and hippocampal volumes were measured on structural magnetic resonance imaging scans. Results. VLBW individuals had a 46% increase in total ventricular volume and a 17% reduction in posterior corpus callosum volume. No differences in whole brain, gray matter, or hippocampal volumes were observed. Conclusion. Specific differences exist in the volumes of certain brain structures in adults who were born VLBW compared with their normal birth weight siblings.