Postnatal Paraclinical Parameters Associated to Occurrence of Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Preterm Infants

Abstract

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most frequent complication in postnatal development of preterm infants. The purpose of the present work is the statistical evaluation of seven standard paraclinical parameters and their association to the development of ICH. Clinical records of 265 preterm infants with gestational age (GA) 23 to 30 weeks were analyzed. According to ICH status, patients were divided into control (without ICH) and affected (with ICH) groups. Mean values of paraclinical parameters at each week of gestation were compared. Different ICH grades, periods before and after ICH were considered separately. Lower hematocrit, SaO2, and pH were statistically significant for preterm infants with 23 to 30 weeks GA and diagnosis of ICH relative to infants without ICH. Additionally, for preterm infants with 27 to 30 weeks GA, higher C-reactive protein, as well as lower values of thrombocytes were associated with the occurrence of ICH. Preterm infants with 23 to 26 weeks GA showed C-reactive protein values similar to those in the group without ICH and lower levels of thrombocytes after bleeding. Significant differences in paraclinical parameters between preterm infants with and without ICH may constitute useful indicators for closer clinical observation of preterm infants at risk of ICH.