Lecture 30; Preterm brain injury 1 Flashcards
Where does majority of injury occur in the preterm baby?
In the white matter structures
Describe the relationship between birth age, injury and death;
- Most hospitals treat from 23 weeks onwards
- Injury and death statistics decrease as the birth age gets older
Note
- 32 weeks survival near 100% (use to be lower until corticosteroids were developed for use in prem lungs surfactant), also huge reduction in risk of severe disability
How many births are preterm (32 weeks)?
5-13%
What are the most common problems associated with preterm babies?.
- ~15% develop cerebral palsy (severe motor neuron loss)
- ~25-50% with cognitive and learning disabilities at childhood and adolescence i.e ADHD low IQ
These are life long consequences and cost $, productivity to the state
How likely is a child to have cerebral palsy instead of cancer?
10x
What are the side effects of cerebral palsy?
Arm and Leg Weakness • Abnormal walking...if at all • Limb Contractures/ Curvature of the Spine • Swallowing/Feeding Problems • Learning Disabilities • Social Alienation
What important to know regarding brain injury?
When it occured
Prior to birth? During birth? After birth?–
Determine the cause of brain injury–Potential interventions/treatment strategies
- Historically, all newborn brain injury thought to occur during birth or shortly after birth–E.g. prolonged labor, cord problems, blood pressure instability
- With new imaging technologies, determined that injury/injurious events can occur well before birth
What are the main causes of fetal brain injury?
- Hypoxia-ischemia (reduced oxygen and blood flow to the brain) (common peri-labour insult)
- Infection–Maternal, fetal/postnatal–Cytokine production
- Accident/trauma
- Teratogens
What are teratogens and what do they don?
Teratogens –Drug use, alcohol, smoking, carbon monoxide
Can cause direct effects on brain and secondary actions on oxygenation, blood flow, and nutrient provision
What are the main white matter injuries seen in preterm brain injury?
Focal Cystic Necrosis (Necrotic cells form fluid, cyst)
Focal Microscopic Necrosis
More common now;
Diffuse white matter injury
Diffus myelination failure
Loose all cellular elements in cyst formation
Write some notes on focal microscopic necrosis;
- Pan-cellular degeneration
- Axonal degeneration
- Highly correlated with cerebral palsy
Many little holes filled with fluid of necrotic cells
Write some notes on diffuse white matter injury;
Reactive microglia
Reactive Astroycytes
Pre-oligodendrocyte death
How could impaired myelination lead to cerebral plasy? / focal necrotic cyst?
Oligodendrocytes create myelin sheath around axons.
- Improves signal transduction
This can occur on motor neurons. Impairs signalling.
Cysts in the brain can also do this.
What would and MRI reveal for these preterm brain injuries?
- Cavitary white matter lesions
- Diffuse white matter lesions
- Ventriculomegaly
- Decreased volume of white matter tracts (white matter atrophy)
What do preterm babies have an increased risk for?
Smaller brain size.