Presentation:
Although babies with PVL generally have no outward signs or
symptoms of the disorder, they are at risk for motor disorders
(especially of the lower limbs), delayed mental development,
coordination problems, and vision and hearing impairments.
Children with PVL have higher levels of
nystagmus,
strabismus,
optic nerve hypoplasia
and
refractive error.
PVL may be accompanied by a hemorrhage or bleeding in the
periventricular-intraventricular area (the area around and
inside the ventricles), and can lead to
cerebral palsy.
Diagnosis:
The
disorder can be diagnosed by
ultrasound,
but
magnetic resonance imaging
of the head is diagnostically more accurate.
Treatment:
The
clinically available
anticonvulsant
topiramate,
when administered post-insult
in vivo,
is considered to be protective against selective
hypoxic–ischemic
white matter injury and decreases the subsequent neuromotor
deficits.
Topiramate
also attenuates
AMPA–kainate
receptor-mediated cell death and
calcium
influx, as well as
kainate-evoked
currents in developing
oligodendrocytes.[1]
Children with PVL should receive regular medical screenings to
determine appropriate interventions.
Prognosis:
The prognosis for individuals with PVL depends
upon the severity of the brain damage. Some children exhibit
fairly mild symptoms, while others have significant deficits and
disabilities.
