[Periventricular leukomalacia in the premature infant with gestational age less than or equal to 32 weeks. Circumstances of onset and echographic aspects].

In a retrospective study of 83 preterm newborns of 32 weeks of gestation or less, isolated periventricular leukomalacia was found in 7 cases (8.4%). Ultrasonographic diagnosis was made in all cases during the first 3 days of life and cystic lesions always occurred during the first 40 days. Five of the 7 newborns suffered from in utero asphyxia, 4 had an Apgar score below 5 at 5 min, and only 4 presented a respiratory distress syndrome. Thus the diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia can be established early by ultrasonography. In utero asphyxia seems to be a critical determinant of ischaemic brain lesions.