Correlation of cranial ultrasound and cerebral visual impairment in 54 at-risk neonates: a prospective study

Patients and methods: Fifty-four infants were enrolled in a longitudinal prospective study in order to assess whether there was a correlation between structural brain lesions, diagnosed using ultrasound, and cerebral visual impairment. Visual development in 20 premature infants (gestational age (GA) 27-35 weeks) with normal cranial ultrasound was compared with visual development in 20 premature infants (GA 27-35 weeks) with periventricular/intraventricular haemorrhage (PVHI IVH) or periventricular/subco~ical leukomalacia (PVCISCL) . 14 neonates born at term with postasphyxial encephalopathy (PAE) were also studied. Ultrasonography was performed at least once a week until discharge and at follow-up. Visual function was assessed at 40 weeks GA and at 3,6,12 and 18 months corrected age, using the visual acuity card-procedure (VAC), visual behavioural testing, flash-VEP (FVEP) and pattern-VEP (P-VEP).