PLACENTAL ABNORMALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH CYSTIC PERIVENTRICULAR LEUKOMALACIA IN PREMATURE NEWBORNS. ??? 2265:

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) occurs commonly in premature infants. The white matter injury is considered to be principally a consequence of ischemic insult to vascular watershed zones with high intrinsic vulnerability. However, other factors, eg., bacterial endotoxins, have also been implicated. In premature newborns with PVL, we observed a high incidence (50%) of presumed antenatal infection compared with controls, based on clinical data. In this study, we describe placental abnormalities associated with cystic PVL and assess their clinical relevance in its pathogenesis.