Abstract
Aims. The aim of the study was to assess cortical visual function in infants with cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).
Methods. Patients with type 3 PVL were assessed at 12 months corrected age using a battery of tests specifically designed to assess various aspects of visual function, including ocular movements, visual acuity (Keeler cards), visual fields and fixation shift. Infants with moderate or severe retinopathy (>stage 1) were excluded.
Results. Thirteen infants (5 m, 8 f) with GA 30.6 + 3.7 weeks and BW 1573 + 583 grams were included in the study. All had some abnormalities of visual function but the spectrum of severity observed was very wide, ranging from isolated abnormal ocular movements to severe abnormalities on all the aspects of visual function assessed. Ocular movements abnormalities were frequent (11/13) often associated to inability to follow an object for a complete arc. Acuity was reduced in 9/13, fixation shift was abnormal in 11/13 and visual fields were reduced in 10/13. Brain MRI was available in 12 of the 13 infants and all had abnormal optic radiations. The infants who also had obvious signs of atrophy of the thalami had a higher risk of develo** more severe visual abnormalities.
Conclusions. Our results suggest that visual abnormalities are frequent in infants with cystic PVL and that a detailed assessment of various aspects of visual functions should be performed in order to identify the severity of cortical visual impairment.
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Gallini, F., Ricci, D., Luciano, R. et al. 139 Visual Findings in Infants with Periventricular Leukomalacia. Pediatr Res 58, 378 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00168
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00168
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