Microstructural properties of white matter in the corpus callosum in neonates and children born preterm and full-term: Quantitative meta-analyses

Abstract

Nearly 15 million infants are born preterm every year. Research shows that compared to their full-term peers, individuals born preterm are more likely to have lower academic scores and be less wealthy later in life. Some suggest that brain connectivity as measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) may underly these results. Critically, these differences have not been substantiated quantitatively. We performed quantitative meta-analyses to evaluate overarching patterns from articles that reported DTI metrics from the corpus callosum (CC), the largest white matter structure in the brain, in neonates and children/adolescents who were born pre-term and full-term. The DTI literature was reviewed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Two meta-analyses, considering publication bias and study heterogeneity, were performed onfractional anisotropy scores from the CC from eligible articles that scanned individuals at 39.9±1.1 weeks (i.e., neonates) and 14±4.13 years of age (i.e., children/adolescents). Meta-analyses for neonates and children/adolescents revealed no significant differences between those born preterm and full-term in the CC. Children/adolescents samples were characterized by significant publication bias and high interstudy heterogeneity, whereas the neonate samples were not. The findings challenge the current state of understanding of white matter microstructure in the CC related to preterm birth. Results highlight the need for further research to better understand the dynamics among factors that can influence neural development in preterm children.