Neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight infants at 24 months and 5 to 7 years of age: Changing diagnosis

We describe the long-term development of 53 very low birth weight premature infants, The children were divided into 2 groups on the basis of ultrasound scan, and classified as: group I, patients with normal ultrasound scan or with uncomplicated hemorrhage; and group II, patients with complicated hemorrhage or only parenchymal lesions, Minor and major sequelae detected at 2 years of age were compared with those observed at 5 to 7 years, Our study confirms that most severely handicapped children are identified by age 2 years, Minor sequelae are more evident at 5 to 7 years and subjects with good outcome, as expressed by a General Cognitive Index score > 80, discordant cognitive profile with verbal scores higher than performance scores, Therefore, we emphasize the importance of follow-up of very low birth weight premature infants until school age and stress that neonatal ultrasound scan diagnosis of parenchymal damage represents an important diagnostic tool in terms of both short-and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.