ABSTRACT
About 15-20% of surviving infants of <1000 g and about 10% of those of 1000-1500 g have a moderately serious disability. Between 8 and 10% of surviving infants of 24-25 weeks’ gestation have a major impairment (e.g. cerebral palsy, blindness). Prematurity is particularly associated with spastic diplegia and relative sparing of intellect. There is no conclusive evidence about the cause of neurological sequelae, but the sickest infants are at the greatest risk. Ischaemic and moderate to severe haemorrhagic cerebral lesions detected on US scan are predictive of a worse neurological outcome. Magnetic resonance studies have shown an association between deranged cerebral energy metabolism in the first week and neurodevelopmental impairment at 1 year of age. The effects of early diet on long-term neurodevelopment and intellect are controversial.
