Exploring the distribution of grey and white matter brain volumes in extremely preterm children, using magnetic resonance imaging at term age and at 10 years of age

Abstract

Objectives To investigate differences in brain volumes between children born extremely preterm and term born controls at term age and at 10 years of age. Study design Children born extremely preterm (EPT), up to 26 weeks and 6 days gestational age, in Stockholm between January 1 2004 to March 31 2007 were included in this population-based cohort study. A total of 45 EPT infants were included at term age and 51 EPT children were included at 10 years of age. There were 27 EPT children included at both time points. Two different control groups were recruited; 15 control infants were included at term age and 38 control children at 10 years of age. The primary outcomes were the grey and white matter volumes. Linear regression, adjusted for intracranial volume and sex, was used. Results At term age, the extremely preterm infants had significantly smaller grey matter volume compared to the control infants with an adjusted mean difference of 5.0 cm3 and a 95% confidence interval of −8.4 to −1.5 (p = 0.004). At 10 years of age the extremely preterm children had significantly smaller white matter volume compared to the control children with an adjusted mean difference of 6.0 cm3 and a 95% confidence interval of −10.9 to −1.0 (p = 0.010). Conclusion Extremely preterm birth was associated with reduced grey matter volume at term age and reduced white matter volume at 10 years of age compared to term born controls.