Periventricular leukomalacia: neurological and radiological sequelae and long term neuropsychological repercussions
Mulas, F.; Smeyers, P.; Téllez de Meneses, M.; Menor, F.
Revista de Neurologia 31(3): 243-252
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0210-0010 PMID: 10996926 Document Number: 523142
Periventricular leukomalacia is an anatomical diagnosis made by neuroimaging technics, of hypoxic-ischemic origin and a characteristic neurological syndrome consisting in cerebral palsy, visual impairment and/or mental retardation. Is more frequently seen in pre-term infant (5-10%) as a spastic diplegia or tetraplegia. Real prevalence in a-term infant is unknown and is presented as hemiplegia. The correlation between periventricular leukomalacia severity and clinical severity is not absolutely clarified. Is not still known if we can predict mental retardation in an infant with periventricular leukomalacia on magnetic resonance image. This paper revise the clinical and radiological diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia and shows the results of a series of 31 patients diagnosed radiologically of periventricular leukomalacia. We correlate the degree of neurological and mental disabilities with the severity of periventricular leukomalacia. We reach a good correlation between the severity of periventricular leukomalacia and the severity of neurological disturbances and mental retardation.