The quality of general movements after treatment with low-dose dexamethasone in preterm infants at risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

The Relationship between General Movements and Risk Factors in Moderate-Late Preterm Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Moderate-late preterm infants constitute the largest segment of preterm births globally. While previously considered to have a low neurological risk, recent research has uncovered an elevated incidence of neurodevelopmental conditions in this group. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the general movement assessment and birth-related risk factor-based tools in moderate-late preterm infants.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study of 65 moderate-late preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit involved the evaluation of general movements, the Nursery Neurobiologic Risk Score, and the Perinatal Risk Inventory. Associations were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, Spearman's correlation was used for ordinal variables, and backward stepwise logistic regression was used to identify predictor variables for the assessments.

RESULTS

The findings indicated a high prevalence of normal (41%) and poor (52%) repertoire patterns during the writhing period. While no significant associations were found between the three assessments, a slight approximation emerged between dysmorphic traits and patterns (p = 0.053). Furthermore, an extended period of ventilation correlated with a higher likelihood of developing a cramped synchronized pattern and there was a correlation between both risk factor-based tools (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This research enhances our understanding of the early impact on general movement assessments in moderate-late preterm infants. While no clear relationship emerged between general movement assessment and risk factor-based tools, there was a subtle connection noted with dysmorphic traits. A longer ventilation duration was linked to a higher risk of developing cramped synchronized patterns.

Systemic postnatal corticosteroid use for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and its relationship to early neurodevelopment in extremely preterm infants

BACKGROUND

Systemic postnatal corticosteroid use in extremely preterm infants poses a risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study explores their use beyond seven days of age with early neurodevelopmental assessments during the fidgety period (9-20 weeks postterm age).

METHODS

This retrospective single-center cohort study included inborn extremely preterm infants from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018. Outborn infants, those with congenital or genetic abnormalities, and those who received postnatal corticosteroids for nonrespiratory reasons were excluded. The cohort was dichotomized based on the status of corticosteroid receipt. Early neurodevelopmental outcomes were reported using Prechtl's General Movements Assessment.

RESULTS

Of the 282 infants, 67 (23.75%) received corticosteroids. Of these, 34 (50.75%) received them for dependency on invasive ventilation (intermittent positive-pressure ventilation), and the remainder received them for dependency on non-invasive ventilation continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP). Abnormal or absent fidgety movements were observed in 13% of infants (7/54) who received corticosteroids compared to 2% of infants (3/146) who did not. An increased odds for an abnormal general movements assessment from corticosteroid use after adjusting for gestational age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14-26.56] was observed. The motor optimality scores differed between the two groups [corticosteroid group: 25.5 (23-26) versus no-corticosteroid group: 26 (24-28); z =  - 2.02]. A motor optimality score < 20 was observed in 14.8% of infants (8/54) in the corticosteroid group compared to 2% of infants (3/146) in the noncorticosteroid group. This difference was significant after adjustment for gestational age (aOR 5.96, 95% CI 1.28-27.74).

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal early neurodevelopment was observed in infants who received systemic postnatal corticosteroids. The relationship between these findings and other factors influencing early neurodevelopment needs further exploration.

The General Movements Motor Optimality Score in High-Risk Infants: A Systematic Scoping Review

PURPOSE

The aim of this systematic scoping review was to explore the use of the motor optimality score in the fidgety movement period in clinical practice, and to investigate evidence for the motor optimality score in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes.

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

Thirty-seven studies, with 3662 infants, were included. Studies were conceptualized and charted into 4 categories based on the motor optimality score: prediction, outcome measure, descriptive, or psychometric properties. The most represented populations were preterm or low-birth-weight infants (16 studies), infants with cerebral palsy or neurological concerns (5 studies), and healthy or term-born infants (4 studies).

CONCLUSION

The motor optimality score has the potential to add value to existing tools used to predict risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Further research is needed regarding the reliability and validity of the motor optimality score to support increased use of this tool in clinical practice. What this adds to the evidence : The motor optimality score has potential to improve the prediction of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Further research on validity and reliability of the motor optimality score is needed; however, a revised version, the motor optimality score-R (with accompanying manual) will likely contribute to more consistency in the reporting of the motor optimality score in future.

Identification of risk factors in pre-term infants with abnormal general movements

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal risk factors for neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) with the outcomes of General Movement (GM) Assessment (GMA) in pre-term infants at 3-5 months of age. We sought to identify the risk factors associated with the predictors of psychomotor development in pre-term newborns, such as normal fidgety movements (FMs), absent FMs, or abnormal FMs, assessed during the fidgety period of motor development.

Methods

The SYNAGIS program (prophylactic of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection) was used to identify risk factors for the development of neuromotor deficits in 164 pre-term infants who were at high risk of developing these deficits. Based on the GMA, all participants were divided into three groups of infants who presented: (1) normal FMs; (2) absent FMs; and (3) abnormal FMs.

Results

The results of the current study suggest that abnormal GMs not only indicate commonly known factors like birth asphyxia (BA), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grades 3-4, but also predict the development of motor impairments. In the present study, several specific risk factors including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), infertility treatments, maternal acute viral/bacterial infections during pregnancy, and elevated bilirubin levels were identified as attributes of an atypical fidgety movement pattern.

Conclusions

Additional clinical data, such as risk factors for NDI associated with early predictors of psychomotor development in pre-term newborns, i.e., absent or abnormal FMs, may be helpful in predicting neurological outcomes in pre-term infants with developmental concerns in the 1st month of life.

Foot-to-Foot Contact Among Initial Goal-Directed Movements Supports the Prognostic Value of Fidgety Movements in HIE-Cooled Infants

Background: Few studies conducted to date have observed general movements in infants affected by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) who underwent therapeutic hypothermia. We investigated whether foot-to-foot contact (FF) could support the predictive value of fidgety movements (FMs) in infants affected by HIE and treated with brain cooling. Methods: Spontaneous motility was video recorded for 3-5 min at 12 weeks post-term age in 58 full-term newborn infants affected by perinatal asphyxia who were cooled due to moderate to severe HIE. FF and FMs were blindly scored by three independent observers. At 24 months, each patient underwent a neurological examination by Amiel-Tison and Grenier. Results: At 24 months, 47 infants had developed typically at neurological examination, eight had developed mild motor impairment, and three developed cerebral palsy (CP). At 12 weeks, 34 (58.6%) infants had shown normal FMs, four of whom developed mild motor impairment. Twenty-four infants (41.4%) exhibited abnormal or no FMs, four of whom developed mild motor impairment and three developed CP. FF was present in 20 infants (34.5%), two of whom developed mild motor impairment. FF was absent in 38 infants (65.5%), six of whom developed mild motor impairment and three developed CP. Both FMs and FF, considered separately, were 100% sensitive for predicting CP at 24 months, but only 61 and 36%, respectively, were specific. Summing the two patterns together, the specificity increases to 73%, considering only CP as an abnormal outcome, and increases to 74% when considering CP plus mild motor impairment. Unexpectedly, fidgety movements were absent in 24 infants with typical motor outcomes, 17 of whom showed a typical motor outcome. Conclusions: FF is already part of motor repertoire at 12 weeks and allows a comparison of spontaneous non-voluntary movements (FMs) to pre-voluntary movements (FF). FF supports FMs for both sensitivity and specificity. A second video recording at 16-18 weeks, when pedipulation is present in healthy infants, is suggested: it may better define the presence or absence of goal-directed motility.

Systematic review and meta-analysis: the effect of bronchopulmonary dysplasia on neurodevelopment in very low birth weight premature infants

BACKGROUND

A meta-analysis was performed to study the effect of steroid intervention on the neurodevelopment of extremely low birth weight preterm infants complicated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and to provide a theoretical basis for clinical treatment.

METHODS

The Wanfang database, Chinese Biomedical Literature database, VIP database, Baidu Academic, CNKI database, The Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, and PubMed database were searched by computer from establishment to 2021. Randomized controlled trials on the effect of steroids on neurodevelopment in very low birth weight preterm infants with bronchial dysplasia published from January 10, 2007 were retrieved. The included literature was evaluated for bias risk, then analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

A total of 9 studies were included, with a total of 2,453 patients. The funnel plot showed that the circles and the midline of some studies were basically symmetrical, and there was no bias in the publications. The conclusions obtained were relatively reliable. Cerebral palsy, neurodevelopmental indicators, and MRI findings of preterm infants were analyzed. The cognitive impairment of very low birth weight preterm infants complicated with bronchial dysplasia (RR =0.83, 95% CI: 0.72-0.96, P=0.01) in the treatment group was significantly different from that in the control group, while cerebral palsy (RR =0.99, 95% CI: 0.75-1.29, P=0.93), speech impairment (RR =0.75, 95% CI: 0.46-1.21, P=0.24), hearing loss requiring amplification (RR =0.60, 95% CI: 0.35-1.03, P=0.06), bilateral blindness RR =0.81, 95% CI: 0.52-1.24, P=0.32), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (RR =0.71, 95% CI: 0.33-1.50, P=0.37), and cystic periventricular leukomalacia (RR =0.82, 95% CI: 0.43-1.57, P=0.56) had no significant differences compared with the control group.

DISCUSSION

In this meta-analysis, we found that the use of steroids in very low birth weight preterm infants complicated with bronchial dysplasia had significant effects on cognition, but no significant effects on hearing, vision, or language function.

Early detection of general movements trajectories in very low birth weight infants

The aim of the study was to investigate General Movements'(GMs) neonatal trajectories and their association with neurodevelopment at three months corrected age (CA) in preterm infants. We conducted an observational, longitudinal study in 216 very low birth weight infants. GMs were recorded at 31 ± 1, 35 ± 1, 40 ± 1 weeks of postmenstrual age and at three months of corrected age (CA). More than 90% of infants showing neonatal trajectories with persistent Normal (N-N) or initial Poor Repertoire to Normal (PR-N) movements presented fidgety pattern at three months CA. On the contrary, fidgety movements were not detected in any infant with a trajectory of persistent Cramped-Synchronized (CS-CS) or an initial Poor-Repertoire to Cramped-Synchronized (PR-CS) movements. Trajectories with initial Normal to Poor-Repertoire (N-PR) or persistent Poor-Repertoire (PR-PR) movements showed an increased risk of having a non-normal Fidgety pattern compared with the N-N group (OR = 8.43, 95% CI: 2.26-31.45 and OR = 15.02, 95% CI: 6.40-35.26, respectively). These results highlight the importance to evaluate neonatal GMs' trajectory to predict infants' neurodevelopment. N-N or PR-N trajectories suggest normal short-term neurodevelopment, especially a lower risk of Cerebral Palsy; whereas findings of N-PR and PR-PR trajectories indicate the need for closer follow up to avoid delay in programming intervention strategies.

Motor and Postural Patterns Concomitant with General Movements Are Associated with Cerebral Palsy at Term and Fidgety Age in Preterm Infants

General movements (GMs) in combination with neurological examination and magnetic resonance imaging at term age can accurately determine the risk of cerebral palsy. The present study aimed to assess whether 11 motor and postural patterns concomitant with GMs were associated with cerebral palsy. Video recordings performed after birth in 79 preterm infants were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty-seven infants developed cerebral palsy at 2 years corrected age and the remaining 42 showed typical development. GMs were assessed from preterm to fidgety age and GM trajectories were defined. The 11 motor and postural patterns were evaluated at each age and longitudinally, alone and in combination with GM trajectories. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association between GMs, concomitant motor and postural patterns, and cerebral palsy. We confirmed that high-risk GM trajectories were associated with cerebral palsy (odds ratio = 44.40, 95% confidence interval = 11.74-167.85). An association between concomitant motor and postural patterns and cerebral palsy was found for some of the patterns at term age and for all of them at fidgety age. Therefore, at term age, concomitant motor and postural patterns can support GMs for the early diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

Functional outcome at school age of preterm-born children treated with low-dose dexamethasone in infancy

BACKGROUND

Surviving preterm born children, postnatally exposed to high doses of dexamethasone, show an increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairments. Regarding treatment with low doses of dexamethasone, no data exist on outcomes at school age.

AIM

To assess the functional outcome at school age of preterm-born children treated with low-dose dexamethasone.

STUDY DESIGN

In this cohort study, twenty-seven very preterm-born infants treated with dexamethasone from eight days after birth, underwent neuropsychological assessments at age 6-13 years. Their scores were compared with those of the norm population, and scores on total IQ and motor functioning also with those of a preterm reference group, using one-sample-chi-square and student's t-tests.

RESULTS

Compared with the norm population, performance of dexamethasone-treated children was poorer, particularly in the motor domain (mean z-score - 1.81). Dexamethasone-treated children also had lower scores on IQ (-0.29 to -1.12), verbal memory (-0.41 to -0.56), attention (-0.90 to -1.28), and word generation (-0.75). Their parents reported behavioral problems more often. Compared with preterm peers, motor skills remained poor, but total IQs were similar. Adjustment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia did not change our results, because all surviving children had bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

CONCLUSIONS

At school age, the prevalence of adverse motor, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes of preterm-born children treated with low-dose dexamethasone is increased. This could be the consequence of either dexamethasone or BPD.

Very low birth weight infants in China: the predictive value of the motor repertoire at 3 to 5months for the motor performance at 12months

BACKGROUND

Studies on motor performance and its early markers are rare in China, especially in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

OBJECTIVE

Apart from the assessment of the inter-scorer agreement, we aimed to analyze to what extent the motor repertoire at 10 to 18weeks postterm was related to neonatal complications, and gross and fine motor performance at 12months after term.

STUDY DESIGN

Exploratory prospective study.

SUBJECTS

Seventy-four VLBW infants (58 males; mean gestational age=29weeks; mean birth weight=1252g).

METHOD

Five-minute video recordings were performed at 10 to 18weeks after term; fidgety movements and the concurrent motor patterns (resulting in a motor optimality score) were assessed according to the Prechtl general movements assessment (GMA). The gross and fine motor performance was assessed by means of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, second edition, at 12months.

RESULTS

Reliability was excellent. Pneumonia was associated with absent fidgety movements; the motor optimality score was lower in infants with pneumonia and/or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Both absent fidgety movements and a lower motor optimality score were associated with a poor or very poor gross and fine motor performance at the 12-month-assessment.

CONCLUSION

Both the assessment of fidgety movements and the evaluation of the concurrent motor repertoire contribute significantly to an identification of VLBW children with a poor gross and fine motor outcome at 12months. The results of this study document the need for an early identification of infants at high risk for a poor motor performance.