Cerebral dysfunctions related to perinatal organic damage: Clinical–neuropathologic correlations.

Abstract

Neuropathology studies in recent years have denned basic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of fetal-neonatal brain damage contributing to sequelant, syndromic cerebral dysfunctions. These investigations identify hypoxic processes as the main cause of perinatal cerebral damage. The acute cerebral lesions present at birth, with transition to chronic scar lesions, are correlated organically with chronic functional sequels, with elements of the syndromic tetralogy of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and related psychopathy, and with patterns of minimal brain dysfunction. The gestational age at the time of the hypoxic exposure and the severity of the hypoxia essentially determine the location and the extent of the damage in the cerebrum and, correspondingly, influence the pattern and severity of the sequelant cerebral dysfunctions.

Effects of social, familial, and maternal state variables on neonatal and infant health.

“…Another point worth noting is that delivery complications, which showed by far the strongest effect on neonatal status, are not predictive of 1-year physical health, whereas pregnancy complications, which showed a weaker impact on neonatal level, are still a relatively strong predictor of the 1-year variable. This finding is in agreement with Pasamanick and Knobloch (1960) and Towbin (1978), who maintained that the mechanical injuries incurred in connection with the delivery will generally have less long-term effects than the anoxia-producing complications associated with pregnancy.…”

Multifocal haemorrhagic brain damage following hypoxia and blood pressure lability: case report and rat model

“…Rorke described similar cases in rare instances [6]. Some of these are likely reperfusion haemorrhage at sites of necrosis [7] or venous infarction [8]. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has demonstrated asymptomatic small subdural and choroid plexus haemorrhages in >25% of term infants [9], with vaginal birth the major risk factor [10].…”

Psychological assessment of prematurely born infants and young children

“…As early as 1861, Little recognized that PB children are at high risk for cerebral palsy and associated motor impairments. Physicians have often called cerebral palsy "the disease of the prematures" (Towbin, 1978). Based on a review of the literature from Western nations, Paneth, Kiely, Stein, and Susser (1981) concluded there was a decline in the prevalence of cerebral palsy among very low birth weight infants ( < 1,500 g) from the 1950s to the 1960s (p. 801).…”