With 4D sonography, it is possible to quantitatively assess normal neurobehavioral development. There is urgent need for further multicentric studies until a sufficient degree of normative data is available and the predictive validity of the specific relationship between fetal neurobehavior and child developmental outcome is better established.
A new scoring system for the assessment of neurological status for antenatal application is proposed, similar to the neonatal optimality test of Amiel-Tison. This preliminary work may help in detecting fetal brain and neurodevelopmental alterations due to in utero brain impairment.
Objective: An evolving challenge for obstetrician is to better define normal and abnormal fetal neurological function in utero in order to better predict antenatally which fetuses are at risk for adverse neurological outcome. Patients and methods: Prenatal neurological assessment in high-risk fetuses using four-dimensional ultrasound applying the recently developed Kurjak antenatal neurodevelopmental test (KANET). Postnatal neurological assessment was performed using Amiel Tison's neurological assessment at term (ATNAT) for all live-borns and general movement (GM) assessment for those with borderline and abnormal ATNAT. Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 288 pregnant women in four centers of whom 266 gave birth to a live-born baby. It was revealed that 234 fetuses were neurologically normal, 7 abnormal and 25 borderline. Out of 7 abnormal fetuses ATNAT was borderline in 5 and abnormal in 2, whereas GM assessment was abnormal in 5 and definitely abnormal in 2. Out of 25 KANET borderline fetuses, ATNAT was normal in 7, borderline in 17 and abnormal in 1, whereas the GM
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