| The specific aims of research in neonatal neurology in the UMCG are threefold: (1) to investigate the validity and usefulness of several non-invasive diagnostic methods in seriously ill preterm and term newborn infants; (2) to investigate the influence of several perinatal risk factors on the integrity of the young nervous system; (3) to determine the prognostic value of these techniques for later neurological and developmental findings. In this research line the focus of the current PhD-project is on diverse risk factors, both in preterm and term infants, in relation to motor, cognitive and behavioral outcome at school age. This is illustrated by results of the first part of the PhD-project. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with mortality and adverse neurological outcome at 18 months of age in preterm infants with periventricular hemorrhagic infarction (PHVI). This study demonstrates that in preterm infants with PVHI, mortality occurred despite optimal treatment. It was associated with circulatory failure and maternal intrauterine infection. In survivors, motor development was abnormal in 66%, but functional abilities were good in the majority. Extension and localization of the PVHI were not related to functional outcome at 18 months. Results of an extended study are expected soon, which aimed to investigate cognitive and behavioural outcomes at school age in children suffering PVHI in the neonatal period. Other research questions in the PhD-project are: - To investigate the influence of brominated flame retardants on the functional motor, cognitive and behavioral outcome of healthy children at school age - To investigate the influence of hyperbilirubinemia on functional motor, cognitive and behavioral outcome of preterm infants at school age, and to investigate the relationship between hyperbilirubinemia, quality of General Movements and functional outcome at school age - To investigate the relationship between results on neurological examinations and developmental tests during the first 2 years of life, and functional outcome at school age in healthy children |
