This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Introduction: Very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants are at an increased risk of neurological abnormalities, including poor cognitive function, decreased academic achievement, visual disability, hearing impairments, and cerebral palsy. 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), which quantitatively measures specific metabolites in various regions of the brain, has been shown to predict neurodevelopmental outcome in term, asphyxiated newborns. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate near term 1H MRS in predicting neurodevelopmental outcome at 18-24 months in VLBW preterm infants. Methods and Discussion: The patient cohort was comprised of 36 infants scanned from 9/01-9/03 who met the inclusion criteria: birth weight ?1510g, gestational age ?32 weeks, and scan age of 35-43 postmenstrual weeks. MRI/MRS was performed on a 1.5 T scanner. Metabolite spectra were analyzed in two regions of interest: 1) the combined left and right thalamus and basal ganglia, and 2) the left and right cortex. Choline (Ch), creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr), and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) peaks were integrated and the ratios of Ch/Cr, NAA/Cr, and NAA/Ch were calculated. Patients were assessed at 18-24 months by the Mental Developmental Index (MDI) and the Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II. Based on their MDI and PDI scores, patients were divided into two outcome groups for each index, normal (? 85) and abnormal (<85). Acknowledgements: Pediatric Research Society, Lucas Foundation, NIH RR09784, CA48269
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