Outcome of intrauterine periventricular haemorrhage and leukomalacia.

This case study reports five very low birthweight infants with ultrasound evidence of intrauterine insult to the brain. Intrauterine periventricular haemorrhage (PVH) accompanied by ventricular dilation occurred in two preterm infants both of whom survived and were severely handicapped at follow-up. Three preterm infants had intrauterine periventricular leukomalacia (PVL); one survived and is severely handicapped at one year of age. Our experience and rare case reports in the literature indicate that intrauterine PVH and PVL carry a high risk of death in neonatal period and severe neurological sequelae in survivors.