Neurodevelopmental outcome of late-preterm infants: Literature review

G Favrais; E Saliba

doi:10.1016/j.arcped.2019.10.005

Neurodevelopmental outcome of late-preterm infants: Literature review

Arch Pediatr. 2019 Nov;26(8):492-496. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2019.10.005. Epub 2019 Nov 5.

Authors

G Favrais¹, E Saliba²

Affiliations

¹ Service de néonatologie, CHRU de Tours, 37044 Tours, France; UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 37044 Tours, France. Electronic address: g.favrais@chu-tours.fr.
² UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 37044 Tours, France.

PMID: 31704103
DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2019.10.005

Abstract

Late-preterm infants are characterized by a birth term from 34^0/7 to 36^6/7 weeks of gestation. A foetal brain at 34^0/7 weeks of gestation weighs only 65% of the full-term newborn brain, which suggests a particular cerebral vulnerability to injury during this 6-week period. Epidemiological studies reporting the neurological outcomes of late-preterm infants exhibit large methodological heterogeneity that inhibits clarity on this issue. However, contradictory results and odds ratio values near neutral reveal probable moderate neurodevelopmental delay in late-preterm infants. This observation reflects the variable neurological outcomes of this population according to multiple perinatal factors. Therefore, the current challenge is to define efficient screening strategies to determine infants requiring specific follow-up.

Keywords: Late prematurity; Neurodevelopment; Newborn.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Brain / growth & development*
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature / growth & development*
Neurodevelopmental Disorders / epidemiology
Neurodevelopmental Disorders / etiology*
Risk Factors