-Thalamic atrophy in infants with PVL and cerebral visual impairment

D. Ricci, S. Anker, F. Cowan, Marika Pane, Francesca Gallini, Rita Paola Maria Luciano, Valeria Donvito, Giovanni Baranello, L. Cesarini, Flaviana Bianco, M. Rutheford, Costantino Romagnoli, J. Atkinson, O. Braddick, Francesco Guzzetta, Eugenio Maria Mercuri

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

56 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to establish the presence and severity of cerebral visual impairment in preterm infants with PVL. We also wished to establish whether abnormalities of visual function are related to brain MRI findings and more specifically not only to the involvement of optic radiations and occipital cortex but also to changes in the thalami, that are often affected in infants with PVL. Twelve infants with cystic PVL were assessed at 1 year (+2) corrected age with a battery of tests specifically designed to assess various aspects of visual function in infancy, such as ocular movements, visual acuity, visual fields and fixation shift. All infants also had a brain MRI. Eleven of the 12 had involvement of the optic radiations: all had some abnormalities of visual function and visual impairment was more severe in infants with more extensive involvement of the optic radiations. The child with normal optic radiations had normal visual function. Six of the 12 infants also had obvious signs of atrophy of the thalami and all had severe and wide-ranging abnormalities of visual function in all testing domains. Two children had equivocal atrophy of the thalami, both had some abnormalities of visual function. Four children had normal thalami and had normal visual function or only minor abnormalities on one of the visual tests. Our results suggest that the atrophy of the thalami may play an additional role in the abnormal development of visual function in infants with PVL and abnormal optic radiations.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)591-595
Number of pages5
JournalEarly Human Development
Publication statusPublished - 2006

Keywords

  • PVL
  • thalamic atrophy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of '-Thalamic atrophy in infants with PVL and cerebral visual impairment'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this