Preterm Birth and Disruptive Cerebellar Development: Assessment of Perinatal Risk Factors

Objective: Cerebellar injury is increasingly recognized as a prematurity-related brain lesion. Whereas the morphological characteristics have already been described, preterm birth and its risk factors for the cerebellar development remain to be evaluated. Patients and Methods: We report on a series of 35 very low birth weight infants (mean birth weight 986g) born between 24 and 32 gestational weeks (mean gestational age 27 weeks) sustaining disruption of cerebellar development as a consequence of extreme prematurity. Perinatal medical records of affected patients were compared to an appropriate control group of…