TY - JOUR
T1 - Cortical visual evoked potentials in very low birthweight premature infants
AU - Atkinson, J
AU - Anker, S
AU - Rae, S
AU - Weeks, F
AU - Braddick, O
AU - Rennie, J
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Objectives: To compare the age of onset of the pattern orientation reversal visual evoked potential (ORNEP) in a group of very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants with term infants matched for postconceptual age at testing. The ORNEP measure is used as an indicator of visual cortical functioning because of the specificity of cortical neurones in showing sensitivity to changes of slant or orientation. Design: Results are given for 24 VLBW infants, born at 24-32 weeks gestation weighing less than 1500 9, and 3 1 infants born at term. The steady state evoked potential to a grating pattern reversing in orientation (between 45degrees and 135degrees) at 4 reversals/second and 8 reversals/second was recorded. Results: The VLBW infants with normal neonatal ultrasound results (and normal neurological outcome at 3 years of age) showed a significant ORNEP with a similar postnatal time course to the term infants. Four premature infants, showing appreciable abnormalities on ultrasound examination, did not show normal onset of the ORNEP, and all had an abnormal neurological outcome. I Conclusions: This result can be taken to indicate that the onset of cortical function is similar in healthy preterm infants to term infants. The visual development of the premature infants was neither accelerated nor delayed as a result of their extra visual experience. The ORNEP can be used as a prognostic indicator of early brain development alongside other neurological measures. It may also be a very early I indicator of later neurological outcome.
AB - Objectives: To compare the age of onset of the pattern orientation reversal visual evoked potential (ORNEP) in a group of very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants with term infants matched for postconceptual age at testing. The ORNEP measure is used as an indicator of visual cortical functioning because of the specificity of cortical neurones in showing sensitivity to changes of slant or orientation. Design: Results are given for 24 VLBW infants, born at 24-32 weeks gestation weighing less than 1500 9, and 3 1 infants born at term. The steady state evoked potential to a grating pattern reversing in orientation (between 45degrees and 135degrees) at 4 reversals/second and 8 reversals/second was recorded. Results: The VLBW infants with normal neonatal ultrasound results (and normal neurological outcome at 3 years of age) showed a significant ORNEP with a similar postnatal time course to the term infants. Four premature infants, showing appreciable abnormalities on ultrasound examination, did not show normal onset of the ORNEP, and all had an abnormal neurological outcome. I Conclusions: This result can be taken to indicate that the onset of cortical function is similar in healthy preterm infants to term infants. The visual development of the premature infants was neither accelerated nor delayed as a result of their extra visual experience. The ORNEP can be used as a prognostic indicator of early brain development alongside other neurological measures. It may also be a very early I indicator of later neurological outcome.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036147122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
SN - 1468-2044
VL - 86
SP - F28 - F31
JO - Archives of Disease in Childhood
JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood
IS - 1
ER -