CMRI-detected brain injuries and clinical key risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants

Abstract Neurological impairment is high after preterm birth. This study evaluates the impact and interplay of cMRI-detected brain injuries (BI) and clinical risk factors on neurodevelopmental outcomes and extracts the most important key factors. A retrospective analysis was conducted on risk factor...

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Main Authors: Karla Drommelschmidt, Thomas Mayrhofer, Hanna Müller, Borek Foldyna, Janika Raudzus, Sophia L. Göricke, Bernd Schweiger, Selma Sirin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02539-1
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author Karla Drommelschmidt
Thomas Mayrhofer
Hanna Müller
Borek Foldyna
Janika Raudzus
Sophia L. Göricke
Bernd Schweiger
Selma Sirin
author_facet Karla Drommelschmidt
Thomas Mayrhofer
Hanna Müller
Borek Foldyna
Janika Raudzus
Sophia L. Göricke
Bernd Schweiger
Selma Sirin
author_sort Karla Drommelschmidt
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Neurological impairment is high after preterm birth. This study evaluates the impact and interplay of cMRI-detected brain injuries (BI) and clinical risk factors on neurodevelopmental outcomes and extracts the most important key factors. A retrospective analysis was conducted on risk factors (perinatal/neonatal, cMRI-detected BI) for adverse motor (MO) and cognitive (CO) outcomes (Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 24 months corrected age) in a tertiary center cohort (2009–2018) of very preterm infants (< 32 weeks of gestation) using uni-/multivariable regression models. We included 342 infants (mean gestational age:28.0 ± 2.3 weeks; male:49%). Significant clinical predictors for MO/CO included GA, birthweight, APGAR score, catecholamine treatment, ventilation, retinopathy of prematurity, transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs), bronchopulmonary dysplasia, surgery, and patent ductus arteriosus interventions (all p < 0.01/p < 0.01), surfactant (MO: p = 0.037), and sepsis (p < 0.001/p = 0.016). (Severe) cMRI-detected BIs (> 1, all p < 0.05) and not only severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) III°/III°+PVHI and ventricular dilatation (VD) (all p < 0.05), but also mild/moderate injuries like IVH II° (p < 0.001/p < 0.024), cerebellar hemorrhage (CO: p = 0.028), and moderate VD (MO: p = 0.005) significantly impacted outcomes. Independent key factors were > 1 severe cMRI-detected BI (MO/CO:-11.27/-10.3 score points (sp), p = 0.021/0.043), APGAR score (10 min, MO/CO:+5.3/+4.45 sp/point, p < 0.001/p < 0.001), surfactant administration (MO:+4.88 sp, p = 0.031), and transfusion of RBCs (MO/CO:-1.69/-1.96 sp/transfusion, p = 0.006/p < 0.001). In conclusion, combining imaging and clinical (key) risk factors is important for risk stratification of preterm infants. Even mild BI, like IVH II°, significantly contributes to adverse outcomes, underlining the importance of cMRI.
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spelling doaj-art-b5b9f738c2c74c5db5384c3a5af9bcf12025-08-20T03:48:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115112010.1038/s41598-025-02539-1CMRI-detected brain injuries and clinical key risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infantsKarla Drommelschmidt0Thomas Mayrhofer1Hanna Müller2Borek Foldyna3Janika Raudzus4Sophia L. Göricke5Bernd Schweiger6Selma Sirin7Department of Pediatrics I, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-EssenSchool of Business Studies, Stralsund University of Applied SciencesDivision of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of TuebingenDepartment of Radiology Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolSchool of Business Studies, Stralsund University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-EssenDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-EssenDepartment of Diagnostic Imaging, University Children’s Hospital Zurich University of ZurichAbstract Neurological impairment is high after preterm birth. This study evaluates the impact and interplay of cMRI-detected brain injuries (BI) and clinical risk factors on neurodevelopmental outcomes and extracts the most important key factors. A retrospective analysis was conducted on risk factors (perinatal/neonatal, cMRI-detected BI) for adverse motor (MO) and cognitive (CO) outcomes (Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 24 months corrected age) in a tertiary center cohort (2009–2018) of very preterm infants (< 32 weeks of gestation) using uni-/multivariable regression models. We included 342 infants (mean gestational age:28.0 ± 2.3 weeks; male:49%). Significant clinical predictors for MO/CO included GA, birthweight, APGAR score, catecholamine treatment, ventilation, retinopathy of prematurity, transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs), bronchopulmonary dysplasia, surgery, and patent ductus arteriosus interventions (all p < 0.01/p < 0.01), surfactant (MO: p = 0.037), and sepsis (p < 0.001/p = 0.016). (Severe) cMRI-detected BIs (> 1, all p < 0.05) and not only severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) III°/III°+PVHI and ventricular dilatation (VD) (all p < 0.05), but also mild/moderate injuries like IVH II° (p < 0.001/p < 0.024), cerebellar hemorrhage (CO: p = 0.028), and moderate VD (MO: p = 0.005) significantly impacted outcomes. Independent key factors were > 1 severe cMRI-detected BI (MO/CO:-11.27/-10.3 score points (sp), p = 0.021/0.043), APGAR score (10 min, MO/CO:+5.3/+4.45 sp/point, p < 0.001/p < 0.001), surfactant administration (MO:+4.88 sp, p = 0.031), and transfusion of RBCs (MO/CO:-1.69/-1.96 sp/transfusion, p = 0.006/p < 0.001). In conclusion, combining imaging and clinical (key) risk factors is important for risk stratification of preterm infants. Even mild BI, like IVH II°, significantly contributes to adverse outcomes, underlining the importance of cMRI.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02539-1Pediatric researchBrain injuriesMagnetic resonance imagingNeurodevelopmental outcomesPreterm infants
spellingShingle Karla Drommelschmidt
Thomas Mayrhofer
Hanna Müller
Borek Foldyna
Janika Raudzus
Sophia L. Göricke
Bernd Schweiger
Selma Sirin
CMRI-detected brain injuries and clinical key risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants
Scientific Reports
Pediatric research
Brain injuries
Magnetic resonance imaging
Neurodevelopmental outcomes
Preterm infants
title CMRI-detected brain injuries and clinical key risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants
title_full CMRI-detected brain injuries and clinical key risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants
title_fullStr CMRI-detected brain injuries and clinical key risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants
title_full_unstemmed CMRI-detected brain injuries and clinical key risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants
title_short CMRI-detected brain injuries and clinical key risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants
title_sort cmri detected brain injuries and clinical key risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants
topic Pediatric research
Brain injuries
Magnetic resonance imaging
Neurodevelopmental outcomes
Preterm infants
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02539-1
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