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Periventricular Leukomalacia - Oren Zarif - Periventricular Leukomalacia

Writer's picture: Oren ZarifOren Zarif

If you or your child has been diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia, you may be wondering what the future holds for your child. Although the condition can have no known cure, treatment can improve cognitive and neurological symptoms. Treatment for PVL can also improve quality of life. Here are some things to remember. If you or your child has been diagnosed with this condition, you should consult with a doctor as soon as possible.

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Symptoms of periventricular leukomalacia include white matter necrosis, which affects the white matter in the brain. Children born before 32 weeks or less than 3.3 pounds have a high risk of developing this condition. In addition, infants requiring mechanical ventilation have increased risk. Other conditions that may contribute to the development of this disorder include hypotension, hypoxemia, and hypocarbia.

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Premature babies lack the ability to regulate blood flow, which can lead to hemorrhage. Insufficient blood can oxygenate white matter and cause the brain to fail to develop properly. A premature baby may be at risk of damage to the eyes, ears, and spine, depending on where the injury occurred. If this condition occurs in a premature baby, he or she may also suffer from acidosis and hypocarbia, a condition in which the body's blood contains too much acid.

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In early childhood, PVL can cause severe disability. A child with the condition may develop cerebral palsy. Because the risk of cerebral palsy is higher, medical professionals work to prevent it. Treatments for PVL include therapeutic hypothermia. Furthermore, preventive measures for pregnant women may reduce the risk of periventricular leukomalacia. These include avoiding risks of infection, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse, as well as carefully monitoring their health.

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A premature baby may develop PVL if it is born too soon. This condition is characterized by the death of brain tissue, or softening of the tissue around the ventricles. Premature babies are more prone to the condition, and lack of oxygen and blood flow during the early stages of their lives may cause PVL. The loss of brain tissue will lead to motor disorders, delayed mental development, and coordination issues, as well as vision impairment.

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Cerebral palsy is a common complication of periventricular leukomalacia, an injury to the white matter of the brain. The white matter transports nerve impulses to the gray matter cells. PVL can cause cognitive impairment and spasticity. Infants with PVL have a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy. But treatments for PVL can minimize the risk of cerebral palsy, as well as help your child live with the condition.

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Children with periventricular leukomalacia may exhibit exaggerated reflexes in their legs. They may also have a scissor-like gait, walk on tip-toes, and other leg muscle stiffening conditions. These symptoms can progress to other parts of the body and can greatly affect your child's ability to move freely and independently. This condition may also damage a child's bones, joints, and ligaments.

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A definitive diagnosis of PVL requires periventricular cyst formation. This can be seen on sonograms two to six weeks after an injury. As the periventricular tissue degenerates, the ventricles enlarge. This progressive necrosis of periventricular tissue results in thinning of the corpus callosum and loss of periventricular white matter. In advanced stages of PVL, the child's brain may exhibit a variety of signs and symptoms, including ventriculomegaly, periventricular white matter, and corpus callosum thinning.

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The mechanisms involved in cellular death of the OL precursor cells in PVL are not entirely clear. Researchers have speculated that the disease may be caused by maternal/fetal infections. This suggests that endotoxin-mediated cytokine release may contribute to the development of PVL. The specific mode of cell death will depend on the type of insult, with moderate insults leading to apoptosis while severe insults lead to necrosis.

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