Predictability of cerebral palsy in a high-risk NICU population

Association of Gestational Age at Birth and Changes on MRI With Prevalence and Spectrum of Comorbidities in Children With Cerebral Palsy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

For individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) and caregivers, comorbidities may be a greater challenge than neuromotor impairment. Clinicians may make assumptions regarding risk of comorbidities based simply on term vs preterm birth, but this has not been well examined. To better understand factors affecting comorbidity pattern, we investigated the relationship between gestational age (GA) and imaging pattern on the presence of specific comorbidities.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of data extracted from the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Registry of children with CP. Multivariable analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between brain injury, GA, and comorbidities. Comorbidities included in the analysis were communication, cognitive, visual, and auditory impairment, seizures in the past year, and gavage feeding. Each comorbidity was assessed as a separate nonexclusive outcome, with GA, MRI pattern, birth weight, postneonatal insult, 5-minute Apgar score, and male sex considered as potential modifiers.

RESULTS

The only comorbidity affected by GA on multivariable analysis was seizures within the past year that were more prevalent in term children (odds ratio [OR] 1.1 95% CI 1.0-1.2) and was also affected by Apgar score (OR 0.9 95% CI 0.85-0.94), but not MRI pattern. MRI pattern appeared important for communication impairment (deep gray OR 4.2 95% CI 1.8-10.0; total brain injury OR 8.5, 95% CI 3.2-22.6; malformation OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.7) and cognitive impairment (deep gray OR 5.6, 95% CI 2.4-13.2; total brain injury OR 10.1, 95% CI 4.0-25.3; malformation OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.6-6.8; watershed OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.4-8.9). Focal injury compared with normal MRI was associated with reduced odds of visual impairment (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.12-0.48), auditory impairment (OR 0.2195% CI 0.10-0.46) and communication impairment (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26-0.82), and overall number of comorbidities (coefficient -0.73, 95% CI -1.2 to -0.31). The number of comorbidities was increased by total brain injury pattern (coefficient 0.65, 95% CI 0.15-1.13) and reduced by focal brain injury (coefficient -0.73, 95% CI -1.2 to -0.31) and increasing 5-minute Apgar score (coefficient -0.11, 95% CI -0.16 to -0.07).

DISCUSSION

In those with brain injuries sufficient to cause CP, development of additional comorbidities is less affected by GA at birth and more related to the underlying cause of CP as reflected by MRI patterns.

Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Very Low Birth Weight Infants in the Northern District of Israel: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Currently, no local database in Israel collects neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants. We investigated neurodevelopmental outcomes in one district of the largest healthcare organization in Israel.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study including all VLBW (<1500 g) preterm infants born between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2016 who were followed in any of seven child development centers in Israel's Northern District. Data were retrospectively collected from the computerized medical record database.

RESULTS

Out of 436 participants, 55.1% had normal developmental outcomes. A total of 8.9% had cerebral palsy (CP), 12.2% had a global developmental delay (GDD), and 33.4% had a language delay. Out of the extremely preterm infants (n = 109), 20.2% had CP, 22.0% had GDD, and 44.9% had language delay. We found a statistically significant higher rate of abnormal neurodevelopment outcomes in non-Jews compared to Jews (57% vs. 37.8%, respectively, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

We found a relatively high overall rate of CP in our local population and a significant difference in neurodevelopmental outcomes between Jews and non-Jews. This study emphasizes the need for an expanded and detailed national database collecting post-discharge outcomes, as well as an assessment of national healthcare resource allocation and inequalities in preterm infants' post-discharge care.

Identifying the Critical Threshold for Long-Term Pediatric Neurological Hospitalizations of the Offspring in Preterm Delivery

We opted to investigate whether a critical threshold exists for long-term pediatric neurological morbidity, and cerebral palsy (CP), in preterm delivery, via a population-based cohort analysis. Four study groups were classified according to their gestational age at birth: 24–27.6, 28–31.6, 32–36.6 weeks and term deliveries, evaluating the incidence of long-term hospitalizations of the offspring due to neurological morbidity. Cox proportional hazard models were performed to control for confounders. A Kaplan–Meier survival curve was used to compare the cumulative neurological morbidity incidence for each group. A total of 220,563 deliveries were included: 0.1% (118) occurred at 24–27.6 weeks of gestation, 0.4% (776) occurred at 28–31.6 weeks of gestation, 6% (13,308) occurred at 32–36.6 weeks of gestation and 93% (206,361) at term. In a Cox model, while adjusting for confounders, delivery before 25 weeks had a 3.9-fold risk for long-term neurological morbidity (adjusted HR (hazard ratio) = 3.9, 95% CI (confidence interval) 2.3–6.6; p < 0.001). The Kaplan–Meier survival curve demonstrated a linear association between long-term neurological morbidity and decreasing gestational age. In a second Cox model, adjusted for confounders, infants born before 25 weeks of gestation had increased rates of CP (adjusted HR = 62.495% CI 25.6–152.4; p < 0.001). In our population, the critical cut-off for long-term neurological complications is delivery before 25 weeks gestation.

Advances in cerebral palsy biomarkers

Cerebral palsy (CP), defined as a group of nonprogressive disorders of movement and posture, is the most common cause of severe neurodisability in children. The prevalence of CP is the same across the globe, affecting approximately 17 million people worldwide. Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term used to describe the disease due to its inherent heterogeneity. For instance, CP has multiple (1) causes; (2) clinical types; (3) patterns of neuropathology on brain imaging and (4) it's associated with several developmental pathologies such as intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy, and visual impairment. Understanding its physiopathology is crucial to developing protective strategies. Despite its importance, there is still insufficient progress in the areas of CP prediction, early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Herein we describe the current risk factors and biomarkers used for the diagnosis and prediction of CP. With the advancement in biomarker discovery, we predict that our understanding of the etiopathophysiology of CP will also increase, lending to more opportunities for developing novel treatments and prognosis.

Impact of prematurity on neurodevelopment

The consequences of prematurity on brain functional development are numerous and diverse, and impact all brain functions at different levels. Prematurity occurs between 22 and 36 weeks of gestation. This period is marked by extreme dynamics in the physiologic maturation, structural, and functional processes. These different processes appear sequentially or simultaneously. They are dependent on genetic and/or environmental factors. Disturbance of these processes or of the fine-tuning between them, when caring for premature children, is likely to induce disturbances in the structural and functional development of the immature neural networks. These will appear as impairments in learning skills progress and are likely to have a lasting impact on the development of children born prematurely. The level of severity depends on the initial alteration, whether structural or functional. In this chapter, after having briefly reviewed the neurodevelopmental, structural, and functional processes, we describe, in a nonexhaustive manner, the impact of prematurity on the different brain, motor, sensory, and cognitive functions.

LEARN2MOVE 0-2 years, a randomized early intervention trial for infants at very high risk of cerebral palsy: family outcome and infant's functional outcome

Purpose: To compare family and functional outcome in infants at very high risk of cerebral palsy, after receiving the family centred programme "Coping with and Caring for infants with special needs (COPCA)" or typical infant physiotherapy.Materials and methods: Forty-three infants at very high risk were included before 9 months corrected age and randomly assigned to one year COPCA (n = 23) or typical infant physiotherapy (n = 20). Family and infant outcome were assessed before and during the intervention. Physiotherapy intervention sessions were analysed quantitatively for process analysis. Outcome was evaluated with non-parametric tests and linear mixed-effect models.Results: Between-group comparisons revealed no differences in family and infant outcomes. Within-group analysis showed that family's quality of life improved over time in the COPCA-group. Family empowerment was positively associated with intervention elements, including "caregiver coaching."Conclusions: One year of COPCA or typical infant physiotherapy resulted in similar family and functional outcomes. Yet, specific intervention elements, e.g., coaching, may increase empowerment of families of very high risk infants and may influence quality of life, which emphasizes the importance of family centred services.Implications for rehabilitationOne year of the family centred programme "Coping with and a Caring for infants with special needs" compared with typical infant physiotherapy resulted in similar family outcome and similar functional outcome for the infants at very high risk for cerebral palsy.Specific contents of intervention, such as caregiver coaching, are associated with more family empowerment and increased quality of life.Emphasis on family needs is important in early intervention for infants at very high risk for cerebral palsy.

A Critical Evaluation of Current Concepts in Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy (CP), despite the name, is not consistently identifiable by specific brain lesions. CP animal models focus on risk factors for development of CP, yet few reproduce the diagnostic symptoms. Animal models of CP must advance beyond risk factors to etiologies, including both the brain and spinal cord.

Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebral Palsy in Children with a History of Preterm Birth

Infants born preterm are at increased risk of cerebral palsy (CP), with the risk increasing with decreasing gestational age. Although preterm children are at increased risk of CP compared with their term-born peers, most preterm children do not have CP and thus, it is important to have a standardized process for detecting those children at high risk of CP early. A combination of clinical history, neuroimaging, and physical examination is recommended to ensure early, accurate diagnosis. Early detection of CP is essential for timely early intervention to optimize outcomes for children and their families.

General movements as a predictive tool of the neurological outcome in term born infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

BACKGROUND

At a time of increasing high risk neonates, an assessment method is needed that can reliably predict neurological deficits at an early age.

AIMS

The objective of this study was to determine whether the assessment of fidgety movements (FMs) will predict the neurological outcome of infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

STUDY DESIGN

This study employed a prospective and descriptive plan.

SUBJECTS

The study sample consisted of 15 infants (8 male and 7 female) born at term. Video recording of FMs were analyzed at 3 to 5 months' infants, who identified with perinatal asphyxia and neonatal HIE. FMs were classified as present or absent.

OUTCOME MEASURES

At 12-18 months age, the infants' developmental outcome was classified as normal or abnormal according to the Infant Neurological International Battery test. "Abnormal outcome" was denoted as poor motor or neurological outcome such as cerebral palsy, whereas "Normal outcome" denotes normal motor and neurological outcomes.

RESULTS

The predictive values of FMs were: a sensitivity 0.80 (95% CI: 0.44-0.96), a specificity 1.00 (95% CI: 0.47-1.00), and the accuracy 0.87 (0.57 to 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

FMs assessment improves our ability to predict later neurodevelopmental outcomes in term born children with neonatal HIE.

Optimising nutrition to improve growth and reduce neurodisabilities in neonates at risk of neurological impairment, and children with suspected or confirmed cerebral palsy

Background

Neurological impairment is a common sequelae of perinatal brain injury. Plasticity of the developing brain is due to a rich substrate of developing neurones, synaptic elements and extracellular matrix. Interventions supporting this inherent capacity for plasticity may improve the developmental outcome of infants following brain injury. Nutritional supplementation with combination docosahexaenoic acid, uridine and choline has been shown to increase synaptic elements, dendritic density and neurotransmitter release in rodents, improving performance on cognitive tests. It remains elusive whether such specific ‘neurotrophic’ supplementation enhances brain plasticity and repair after perinatal brain injury.

Methods/Design

This is a two year double-blind, randomised placebo controlled study with two cohorts to investigate whether nutritional intervention with a neurotrophic dietary supplement improves growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates at significant risk of neurological impairment (the D1 cohort), and infants with suspected or confirmed cerebral palsy (the D2 cohort).

120 children will be randomised to receive dietetic and nutritional intervention, and either active supplement or placebo. Eligible D1 neonates are those born <30⁺⁶ weeks gestation with weight <9^th centile, ≤30⁺⁶ weeks gestation and Grade II, III or IV Intra-Ventricular Haemorrhage or periventricular white matter injury, or those born at 31-40⁺²⁸ weeks gestation, with Sarnat grade I or II or III Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy or neuroimaging changes compatible with perinatal brain injury. Eligible D2 infants are those aged 1-18 months with a suspected or confirmed clinical diagnosis of cerebral palsy. The primary outcome measure is composite cognitive score on the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III at 24 months. Secondary outcomes include visuobehavioural and visual neurophysiological assessments, and growth parameters including weight, height, and head circumference.

Discussion

This is the first study to supplement neonates and infants with perinatal brain injury with the combination of factors required for healthy brain development, throughout the period of maximal brain growth. A further study strength is the comprehensive range of outcome measures employed. If beneficial, supplementation with brain phosphatide precursors could improve the quality of life of thousands of children with perinatal brain injury.

Trial registration

Current Controlled trials: ISRCTN39264076 (registration assigned 09/11/2012), ISRCTN15239951 (registration assigned 23/04/2010).

[Early prediction of the neurological result at 12 months in newborns at neurological risk]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Amiel-Tison neurological examination (AT) and cranial ultrasound at term for predicting the neurological result at 12 months in newborns with neurological risk.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 89 newborns with high risk of neurological damage, who were discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care of the Hospital Zonal Bariloche, Argentina. The assessment consisted of a neurological examination and cranial ultrasound at term, and neurological examination and evaluation of development at 12 months. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictor value was calculated. The relationship between perinatal factors and neurodevelopment at 12 month of age was also calculated using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Seventy children completed the follow-up. At 12 months of age, 14% had an abnormal neurological examination, and 17% abnormal development. The neurological examination and the cranial ultrasound at term had low sensitivity to predict abnormal neurodevelopment. At 12 months, 93% of newborns with normal AT showed normal neurological results, and 86% normal development. Among newborns with normal cranial ultrasound the percentages were 90 and 81%, respectively. Among children with three or more perinatal risk factors, the frequency of abnormalities in the neurological response was 5.4 times higher than among those with fewer risk factors, and abnormal development was 3.5 times more frequent.

CONCLUSIONS

The neurological examination and cranial ultrasound at term had low sensitivity but high negative predictive value for the neurodevelopment at 12 months. Three or more perinatal risk factors were associated with neurodevelopment abnormalities at 12 months of age.

Postural adjustments in infants at very high risk for cerebral palsy before and after developing the ability to sit independently

BACKGROUND

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have impaired postural control. Posture is controlled in two levels: direction-specificity, and fine-tuning of direction-specific adjustments, including recruitment order. Literature suggests that direction-specificity might be a prerequisite for independent sitting.

AIM

To study development of postural adjustments in infants at very high risk for CP (VHR-infants) during developing the ability to sit independently.

METHOD

In a longitudinal study surface electromyograms of the neck-, trunk- and arm muscles of 11 VHR-infants and 11 typically developing (TD) infants were recorded during reaching in sitting before and after developing the ability to sit unsupported (median ages: VHR 8.0 and 14.9months; TD 5.7 and 10.4months). Sessions were video-recorded.

RESULTS

In VHR- and TD-infants the prevalence of direction-specific adjustments and recruitment order did not change when the infant learned to sit independently. In VHR-infants able to sit independently more successful reaching was associated with a higher frequency of bottom-up recruitment (Spearman's rho=0.828, p=0.006) and a lower frequency of simultaneous recruitment (Spearman's rho=-0.701, p=0.035), but not with more direction-specificity. In TD-infants not able to sit independently, more successful reaching was associated with higher rates of direction-specific adjustments at the neck level (Spearman's rho=0.778, p=0.014), but not with recruitment order.

CONCLUSIONS

In VHR- and TD-infants postural adjustments during reaching in terms of direction-specificity and recruitment order are not related to development of independent sitting. Postural adjustments are associated with success of reaching, be it in a different way for VHR- and TD-infants.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NTR1428.

Cerebral palsy in Al-Quseir City, Egypt: prevalence, subtypes, and risk factors

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most frequent cause of motor handicap. The present door-to-door survey was conducted in Al-Quseir City, Egypt, to investigate the epidemiology of CP. All inhabitants were screened by three neurologists. Medical and neurological examinations were performed for all residents and suspected cases of CP were confirmed by meticulous neurological assessment, brain magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and testing with the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. Forty-six of 12,788 children aged ≤18 years were found to have CP, yielding a childhood prevalence of 3.6 (95% confidence interval 1.48-2.59) per 1,000 live births. Five adults (aged 19-40 years) among 13,056 inhabitants had CP, giving an adult prevalence of 0.4 (95% confidence interval 0.04-0.72) per 1,000. The risk factors for CP identified in this study were premature birth, low birth weight, neonatal jaundice, neonatal seizures, and recurrent abortion in mothers of children with CP.

Early prediction of cerebral palsy after neonatal intensive care using motor development trajectories in infancy

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients are at high risk for developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy (CP). Early identification of CP is essential to effective rehabilitation, but diagnosis is often delayed, especially in preterm infants. We hypothesized that through the longitudinal evaluation of motor trajectories in the NICU follow-up clinic, we could distinguish infants who develop CP by 3 years of age.

STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

This was a retrospective study of 606 patients in the NICU Follow-up Clinic at Vanderbilt University with birth weight < 1500g or a diagnosis of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

OUTCOMES MEASURES

Assessments included neurologic exams, the Developmental Assessment of Young Children (DAYC), the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) and the Gross Motor Function Classification Scale.

RESULTS

A decrease in DAYC scores between 6 and 12 months was present in preterm and term infants later diagnosed with CP, but not in children without CP (-23 vs. +1.5, p<0.001). DAYC score decreases in infancy were highly predictive of later CP (p<0.001). BSID scores quantified severe motor delays but did not add to prediction of CP diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Standardized assessments of motor milestones quantitatively predict the risk of CP in former NICU patients by 12 months, allowing for timely diagnosis, counseling and therapy in high-risk infants.

Early markers for cerebral palsy: insights from the assessment of general movements

Overt clinical symptoms of cerebral palsy do not emerge before a child is at least half a year old. Among the most reliable early markers for cerebral palsy are abnormal ‘general movements’ (GMs). Two specific abnormal GM patterns predict cerebral palsy: cramped-synchronized GMs (during preterm and term age), which lack the usual smoothness and fluent character; and limb and trunk muscles contract almost simultaneously and relax almost simultaneously. In addition, the absence of so-called fidgety movements at 3–5 months post-term age. Fidgety movements are small movements of the neck, trunk and limbs in all directions and of variable acceleration. Beside a high sensitivity (>91%) and specificity (>81%), the assessment of GMs is quick, nonintrusive and easy to acquire.

Cerebral palsy in children: movements and postures during early infancy, dependent on preterm vs. full term birth

BACKGROUND

A deviant motor behaviour at age 3 to 5 months is predictive of cerebral palsy (CP). Particular features of the early motor repertoire even proved predictive of the degree of functional limitations as classified on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) in children with CP, born preterm.

AIMS

We aimed to determine whether an association between the early motor repertoire and the GMFCS also holds true for children born at term.

STUDY DESIGN

Longitudinal study.

SUBJECTS

79 infants (60 boys and 19 girls; 47 infants born at term; video recorded for the assessment of movements and posture at age 9 to 20 weeks postterm age) who developed CP.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The GMFCS was applied at age 2 to 5 years.

RESULTS

Motor optimality at age 3 to 5 months showed a significant correlation with functional mobility and activity limitation as classified on the GMFCS at age 2 to 5 years in both children born at term (Spearman rho=-0.66, p<0.001) and born preterm (rho=-0.37, p<0.05). Infants born preterm were more likely to show normal movement patterns than infants born at term. A normal posture and an abnormal, jerky (yet not monotonous) movement character resulted in better levels of function and mobility. With the exception of one, none of the infants showed fidgety movements. A cramped-synchronised movement character, repetitive opening and closing of the mouth, and abnormal finger postures characterised children who would show a poor self-mobility later.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessing the quality of motor performance at 9 to 20 weeks postterm age (irrespective of the gestational age) improves our ability to predict later functional limitations in children with CP.

A comprehensive approach to the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

The current bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is seen in infants born extremely premature, with less severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and who received prenatal steroids-"new BPD". The pathophysiology of BPD is based on an impairment of lung maturation with prenatal and postnatal multi-hit insults and genetic susceptibility. This multifactorial pathophysiology of BPD suggests that no single "magic bullet" will prevent it. Thus, to avoid BPD we need to implement a complex and comprehensive strategy. This strategy is based on ventilatory and non-ventilatory measures. The ventilatory route allows an individualized endotracheal intubation approach. Early lung recruitment with nasal respiratory support (nasal continuous positive airway pressure [NCPAP] or nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation [NIPPV] / synchronized NIPPV [SNIPPV]) and the INSURE (intubation, surfactant and early extubation) approach are discussed. Initial treatment with NCPAP did not reduce the rate of BPD compared to endotracheal ventilation and surfactant administration. While NIPPV/SNIPPV may have short-term advantages over NCPAP, the effect on BPD needs to be further studied. During hospitalization the respiratory goals should aim for adequate oxygenation, permissive hypercapnia, and gentle ventilation. However, these goals were found to have short-term benefits but did not reduce significantly the rate of BPD. Selective use of a short course of low dose corticosteroids can be considered after the first or second week of life in infants who are unable to be weaned from the ventilator and are at high risk for BPD. Non-ventilatory measures include early nutritional support with fluid restriction, caffeine and consideration of vitamin A. Hemodynamic significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) may be associated with BPD, but medical or surgical treatment of PDA were not shown to decrease BPD. Each component and the strategy as a whole needs to be further studied in large randomized prospective studies or by meta-analyses, especially in the target population of extremely premature infants who are the most prone to BPD.