Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Neurodevelopmental outcomes in postnatal growth-restricted preterm infants with postnatal head-sparing

Abstract

Objective:

To compare neurodevelopmental outcomes in postnatal growth-restricted infants born <29 weeks with and without postnatal head-sparing (PHS).

Study Design:

We analyzed developmental outcomes at 2 years of age among postnatally growth-restricted infants with and without head-sparing. The primary outcome was Bayley III cognitive composite score; secondary outcomes included Bayley III motor composite score, moderate/severe cerebral palsy, gross motor functional classification scale level2, and presence or absence of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI).

Results:

Of 1098 infants evaluated at 18 to 22 months, 658 were postnatally growth restricted, of whom 301 had head-sparing. In the multivariate model including independent risk factors for poor growth and poor developmental outcome, infants with head-sparing had higher adjusted motor composite scores (mean difference 4.65, P<0.01), but no differences in other neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Conclusion:

PHS is associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely preterm infants, specifically Bayley III motor scores, but whether beneficial effects of PHS persist later in life is unknown.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Belfort MB, Rifas-Shiman SL, Sullivan T, Collins CT, McPhee AJ, Ryan P et al. Infant growth before and after term: effects on neurodevelopment in preterm infants. Pediatrics 2011; 128 (4): e899–e906.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Ehrenkranz RA, Dusick AM, Vohr BR, Wright LL, Wrage LA, Poole WK . Growth in the neonatal intensive care unit influences neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants. Pediatrics 2006; 117 (4): 1253–1261.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Latal-Hajnal B, von Siebenthal K, Kovari H, Bucher HU, Largo RH . Postnatal growth in VLBW infants: significant association with neurodevelopmental outcome. J Pediatr 2003; 143 (2): 163–170.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kan E, Roberts G, Anderson PJ, Doyle LW Victorian Infant Collaborative Study G.. The association of growth impairment with neurodevelopmental outcome at eight years of age in very preterm children. Early Hum Dev 2008; 84 (6): 409–416.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Neubauer V, Griesmaier E, Pehbock-Walser N, Pupp-Peglow U, Kiechl-Kohlendorfer U . Poor postnatal head growth in very preterm infants is associated with impaired neurodevelopment outcome. Acta Paediatr 2013; 102 (9): 883–888.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ramel SE, Demerath EW, Gray HL, Younge N, Boys C, Georgieff MK . The relationship of poor linear growth velocity with neonatal illness and two-year neurodevelopment in preterm infants. Neonatology 2012; 102 (1): 19–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Modi M, Saluja S, Kler N, Batra A, Kaur A, Garg P et al. Growth and neurodevelopmental outcome of VLBW infants at 1 year corrected age. Indian Pediatr 2013; 50 (6): 573–577.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bocca-Tjeertes I, Bos A, Kerstjens J, de Winter A, Reijneveld S . Symmetrical and asymmetrical growth restriction in preterm-born children. Pediatrics 2014; 133 (3): e650–e656.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Guellec I, Marret S, Baud O, Cambonie G, Lapillonne A, Roze JC et al. Intrauterine growth restriction, head size at birth, and outcome in very preterm infants. J Pediatr 2015; 167: 975–81.e2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Leitner Y, Fattal-Valevski A, Geva R, Eshel R, Toledano-Alhadef H, Rotstein M et al. Neurodevelopmental outcome of children with intrauterine growth retardation:a longitudinal, 10-year prospective study. J Child Neurol 2007; 22 (5): 580–587.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fenton TR, Kim JH . A systematic review and meta-analysis to revise the Fenton growth chart for preterm infants. BMC Pediatr 2013; 13: 59.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Newman JE, Bann CM, Vohr BR, Dusick AM, Higgins RD et alFollow-Up Study Group of Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network.. Improving the Neonatal Research Network annual certification for neurologic examination of the 18-22 month child. J Pediatr 2012; 161 (6): 1041–1046.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Bayley N . Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. Harcourt Assessment: San Antonio, TX, 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Palisano R, Rosenbaum P, Walter S, Russell D, Wood E, Galuppi B . Development and reliability of a system to classify gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol 1997; 39 (4): 214–223.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Johnson S, Moore T, Marlow N . Using the Bayley-III to assess neurodevelopmental delay: which cut-off should be used? Pediatr Res 2014; 75 (5): 670–674.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Vohr BR, Stephens BE, Higgins RD, Bann CM, Hintz SR, Das A et al. Are outcomes of extremely preterm infants improving? Impact of Bayley assessment on outcomes. J Pediatr 2012; 161 (2): 222–228 e223.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Griffin IJ, Tancredi DJ, Bertino E, Lee HC, Profit J . Postnatal growth failure in very low birthweight infants born between 2005 and 2012. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2015; 101: F50–F55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Georgieff MK . Nutrition and the developing brain: nutrient priorities and measurement. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 85 (2): 614S–620S.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Morgan C, McGowan P, Herwitker S, Hart AE, Turner MA . Postnatal head growth in preterm infants: a randomized controlled parenteral nutrition study. Pediatrics 2014; 133 (1): e120–e128.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Stoltz Sjöström E1 ÖI, Ahlsson F, Engström E, Fellman V, Hellström A, Källén K et al. Nutrient intakes independently affect growth in extremely preterm infants: results from a population-based study. Acta Paediatr 2013; 102 (11): 1067–1074.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Roggero P, Gianni ML, Orsi A, Amato O, Piemontese P, Liotto N et al. Implementation of nutritional strategies decreases postnatal growth restriction in preterm infants. PLoS One 2012; 7 (12): e51166.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Lang CH, Frost RA . Glucocorticoids and TNFalpha interact cooperatively to mediate sepsis-induced leucine resistance in skeletal muscle. Mol Med 2006; 12 (11–12): 291–299.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Lang CH, Frost RA . Sepsis-induced suppression of skeletal muscle translation initiation mediated by tumor necrosis factor alpha. Metabolism 2007; 56 (1): 49–57.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Fields DA, Demerath EW . Relationship of insulin, glucose, leptin, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in human breast milk with infant growth and body composition. Pediatr Obes 2012; 7 (4): 304–312.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Ahmad I, Zaldivar F, Iwanaga K, Koeppel R, Grochow D, Nemet D et al. Inflammatory and growth mediators in growing preterm infants. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2007; 20 (3): 387–396.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Eliakim A, Nemet D, Ahmad I, Zaldivar F, Koppel R, Grochow D et al. Growth factors, inflammatory cytokines and postnatal bone strength in preterm infants. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2009; 22 (8): 733–740.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kuban KC, O'Shea TM, Allred EN, Fichorova RN, Heeren T, Paneth N et al. The breadth and type of systemic inflammation and the risk of adverse neurological outcomes in extremely low gestation newborns. Pediatr Neurol 2015; 52 (1): 42–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Lee I, Neil JJ, Huettner PC, Smyser CD, Rogers CE, Shimony JS et al. The impact of prenatal and neonatal infection on neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants. J Perinatol 2014; 34 (10): 741–747.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Stoll BJ, Hansen NI, Adams-Chapman I, Fanaroff AA, Hintz SR, Vohr B et al. Neurodevelopmental and growth impairment among extremely low-birth-weight infants with neonatal infection. JAMA 2004; 292 (19): 2357–2365.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The National Institutes of Health and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) provided grant support for the Neonatal Research Network’s Generic Database and Follow-up Study through cooperative agreements. While NICHD staff did have input into the study design, conduct, analysis, and manuscript drafting, the comments and views of the authors do not necessarily represent the views of the NICHD.

Data collected at participating sites of the NICHD Neonatal Research Network (NRN) were transmitted to RTI International, the data coordinating center (DCC) for the network, which stored, managed and analyzed the data for this study. On behalf of the NRN, Drs Abhik Das (DCC Principal Investigator) and Carla M Bann (DCC Statistician) had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and accuracy of the data analysis.

We are indebted to our medical and nursing colleagues and the infants and their parents who agreed to take part in this study. The following investigators, in addition to those listed as authors, participated in this study:

NRN Steering Committee Chair: Michael S Caplan, MD, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine; Richard A Polin, MD, Division of Neonatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University (2011–present).

Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island (U10 HD27904)—Abbot R Laptook, MD; Angelita M Hensman, MS RNC-NIC; William Oh, MD; Martin Keszler, MD; Betty R Vohr, MD; Robert Burke, MD; Melinda Caskey, MD; Katharine Johnson, MD; Elisabeth C McGowan MD; Barbara Alksninis, PNP; Mary Lenore Keszler, MD; Theresa M Leach, MEd CAES; Bonnie E Stephens, MD; Victoria E Watson, MS CAS; Suzy Ventura; Kristin M Basso, MS BSN; Elisa Vieira, RN BSN; Andrea M Knolls; Kristin M Basso, MaT RN; Elisa Vieira, RN BSN.

Case Western Reserve University, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital (U10 HD21364, M01 RR80)—Michele C Walsh, MD MS; Avroy A Fanaroff, MD; Anna Marie Hibbs, MD; Deanne E Wilson-Costello, MD; Nancy S Newman, BA RN; Bonnie S Siner, RN; Monika Bhola, MD; Gulgun Yalcinkaya, MD; Harriet G Friedman, MA.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University Hospital, and Good Samaritan Hospital (U10 HD27853, M01 RR8084)—Kurt Schibler, MD; Edward F Donovan, MD; Kate Bridges, MD; Barbara Alexander, RN; Cathy Grisby, BSN CCRC; Jody Hessling, RN; Estelle E Fischer, MHSA MBA; Lenora D Jackson, CRC; Kristin Kirker, CRC; Holly L Mincey, RN BSN; Greg Muthig, BS; Teresa L Gratton, PA; Jean J Steichen, MD; Kimberly Yolton, PhD.

Duke University School of Medicine, University Hospital, University of North Carolina, and Duke Regional Hospital (U10 HD40492, M01 RR30, UL1 TR83)—Ronald N Goldberg, MD; C Michael Cotten, MD MHS; Ricki F Goldstein, MD; William F Malcolm, MD; Patricia L Ashley, MD; Kimberley A Fisher, PhD FNP-BC IBCLC; Sandra Grimes, RN BSN; Joanne Finkle, RN JD; Kathryn E Gustafson, PhD; Matthew M Laughon, MD MPH; Carl L Bose, MD; Janice Bernhardt, MS RN; Gennie Bose, RN; Janice K Wereszczak, CPNP-AC/PC.

Emory University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Grady Memorial Hospital, and Emory University Hospital Midtown (U10 HD27851, UL1 TR454)—David P Carlton, MD; Ellen C Hale, RN BS CCRC; Yvonne Loggins, RN BSN; Diane Bottcher, RN MN; Ira Adams-Chapman, MD; Maureen Mulligan LaRossa, RN; Sheena L Carter, PhD.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development—Rosemary D Higgins, MD; Stephanie Wilson Archer, MA.

Indiana University, University Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children, and Eskenazi Health (U10 HD27856, M01 RR750, UL1 TR6)—Brenda B Poindexter, MD MS; Gregory M Sokol, MD; Anna M Dusick, MD (deceased); Heidi Harmon, MD MS; Dianne E Herron, RN; Lucy Smiley, CCRC; Carolyn Lytle, MD MPH; Lucy C Miller, RN BSN CCRC; Heike M Minnich, PsyD HSPP; Abbey C Hines, PsyD; Leslie Dawn Wilson, BSN CCRC.

RTI International (U10 HD36790)—Abhik Das, PhD; Dennis Wallace, PhD; Jamie E Newman, PhD MPH; Jeanette O’Donnell Auman, BS; Margaret M Crawford, BS CCRP; Marie G Gantz, PhD; Carolyn M Petrie Huitema, MS CCRP; Kristin M Zaterka-Baxter, RN BSN CCRP.

Stanford University, Dominican Hospital, El Camino Hospital, and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (U10 HD27880, M01 RR70, UL1 TR93)—Krisa P Van Meurs, MD; David K Stevenson, MD; Susan R Hintz, MD MS Epi; Marian M Adams, MD; M Bethany Ball, BS CCRC; Andrew W Palmquist, RN BSN; Melinda S Proud, RCP; Barbara Bentley, PhD; Elizabeth Bruno, PhD; Maria Elena DeAnda, PhD; Anne M DeBattista, RN PNP; Lynne C Huffman, MD Jean G Kohn, MD MPH; Casey E Krueger, PhD; Brian Tang, MD; Hali E Weiss, MD.

Tufts Medical Center, Floating Hospital for Children (U10 HD53119, M01 RR54)—Ivan D Frantz III, MD; John M Fiascone, MD; Brenda L MacKinnon, RNC; Ellen Nylen, RN BSN; Anne Furey, MPH; Elisabeth C McGowan, MD; Cecelia E Sibley PT MHA; Ana K Brussa, MS OTR/L.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System and Children’s Hospital of Alabama (U10 HD34216, M01 RR32)—Waldemar A Carlo, MD; Namasivayam Ambalavanan, MD; Myriam Peralta-Carcelen, MD MPH; Monica V Collins, RN BSN MaEd; Shirley S Cosby, RN BSN; Fred J Biasini, PhD; Kristen C Johnston, MSN CRNP; Kathleen G Nelson, MD; Cryshelle S Patterson, PhD; Vivien A Phillips, RN BSN; Sally Whitley, MA OTR-L FAOTA; Amanda D Soong, MD; Carin Kiser, MD; Leigh Ann Smith, CRNP; Sara Kryzwanski, MS; Richard V Rector, PhD; Sarah Ryan, PhD; Kristy Domnanovich, PhD; Leslie Rodrigues, PhD.

University of California, San Diego Medical Center and Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns (U10 HD40461)—Neil N Finer, MD; Yvonne E Vaucher, MD MPH; David Kaegi, MD; Maynard R Rasmussen, MD; Kathy Arnell, RNC; Clarence Demetrio, RN; Martha G Fuller, RN MSN; Chris Henderson, RCP CRTT; Wade Rich, BSHS RRT; Radmila West PhD.

University of Iowa and Mercy Medical Center (U10 HD53109, M01 RR59)—Dan L Ellsbury, MD; John A Widness, MD; Tarah T Colaizy, MD MPH; Jane E Brumbaugh, MD; Michael J Acarregui, MD; Diane L Eastman, RN CPNP MA; Karen J Johnson, RN BSN; Donia B Campbell, RNC-NIC; Jacky R Walker, RN.

University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (U10 HD53089, UL1 TR41)—Kristi L Watterberg, MD; Robin K Ohls, MD; Janell F Fuller, MD; Conra Backstrom Lacy, RN; Rebecca A Montman, BSN RNC; Jean R Lowe, PhD; Carol Hartenberger, BSN MPH.

University of Rochester Medical Center, Golisano Children’s Hospital, and the University of Buffalo Women's and Children's Hospital of Buffalo (U10 HD68263, U10 HD40521, M01 RR44, UL1 TR42—Carl T D’Angio, MD.

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital (U10 HD21373)—Kathleen A Kennedy, MD MPH; Jon E Tyson, MD MPH; Allison Dempsey, PhD; Patricia W Evans, MD; Charles E Green, PhD; Margarita Jiminez, MD MPH; Janice John, CPNP; Patrick M Jones, MD MA, Georgia E McDavid, RN; M Layne Poundstone, RN BSN; Saba Siddiki, MD; Daniel Sperry, RN; Patti L Pierce Tate, RCP; Sharon L Wright, MT (ASCP).

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Parkland Health & Hospital System, and Children's Medical Center Dallas (U10 HD40689, M01 RR633)—Pablo J Sánchez, MD; Roy J Heyne, MD; Luc P Brion, MD; LiJun Chen, RN, PhD; Alicia Guzman; Melissa H Leps, RN; Nancy A Miller, RN; Diana M Vasil, RNC-NIC; Lizette E Torres, RN; Sally S Adams, MS RN CPNP; Linda A Madden, RN CPNP; Elizabeth Heyne, PsyD PA-C; Catherine Twell Boatman, MS CIMI.

University of Utah University Hospital, Intermountain Medical Center, LDS Hospital, and Primary Children's Medical Center (U10 HD53124, M01 RR64, UL1 TR105)—Roger G Faix, MD; Bradley A Yoder, MD; Anna Bodnar, MD; Karen A Osborne, RN BSN CCRC; Shawna Baker, RN; Karie Bird, RN BSN; Jill Burnett, RNC BSN; Jennifer J Jensen, RN BSN; Manndi C Loertscher, BS CCRP; Carrie A Rau, RN BSN CCRC; Cynthia Spencer, RNC BSN; Mike Steffen, PhD; Kimberlee Weaver-Lewis, RN MS; Sarah Winter, MD; Karen Zanetti, RN.

Wayne State University, University of Michigan, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of Michigan (U10 HD21385)—Seetha Shankaran, MD; Athina Pappas, MD; John Barks, MD; Martha Carlson, MD; Angela Argento; PhD; Rebecca Bara, RN BSN; Laura A Goldston, MA; Mary Johnson, RN BSN; Mary Christensen, RT; Stephanie Wiggins, MS.

Yale University, Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, and Bridgeport Hospital (U10 HD27871, UL1-RR024139, UL1 TR142)—Richard A Ehrenkranz, MD; Harris Jacobs, MD; Christine G Butler, MD; Patricia Cervone, RN; Sheila Greisman, RN; Monica Konstantino, RN BSN; JoAnn Poulsen, RN; Janet Taft, RN BSN; Joanne Williams, RN BSN; Elaine Romano, MSN.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Consortia

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J M Meyers.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Meyers, J., Bann, C., Stoll, B. et al. Neurodevelopmental outcomes in postnatal growth-restricted preterm infants with postnatal head-sparing. J Perinatol 36, 1116–1121 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.154

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.154

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links