Preterm neonates are at high risk of long-term neurodevelopmental morbidities. Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is the main form of brain injury and is mostly found in premature neonates. This study aims to discover the prevalence of PVL and provide baseline characteristics of PVL. The study included term and preterm neonates diagnosed with PVL, detected by head ultrasound, during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or neonatology ward in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin from February 2021 to January 2023. Data were gathered from medical records. During the study, nineteen patients were enrolled, 18 preterm neonates (<37 weeks of gestation) and one full-term neonate. The mean gestational age was 32.3 + 2.5 weeks. The overall prevalence rate of PVL in preterm neonates was 4.4% (18/409), and in extremely preterm neonates was 5.7% (7/122). Diffuse PVL is the most common form of PVL (78.9%). The risk factors revealed were sepsis and respiratory distress. Blood transfusion was found in nearly all of the neonates. The prevalence of extremely preterm neonates with PVL was lower than previously reported due to limited resources (absence of bedside ultrasound). Diffuse (non-cystic) PVL was the predominant ultrasound finding. Common neonatal risk factors such as sepsis, respiratory distress, and blood transfusion could be related to PVL.
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Globally, the estimation of preterm birth rate in 2014 was 10.6%. Of this, according to gestational age, over 11.3% represents very preterm neonates (gestational age <32 weeks) and 4.1% extremely preterm neonates (gestational age <28 weeks). Indonesia was on the fifth position for number of preterm births with rate of 10.4%, equating about half a million neonates.
[2]
Chawanpaiboon S, Vogel JP, Moller AB, et al. Global, regional, and national estimates of levels of preterm birth in 2014: a systematic review and modelling analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2019; 7: e37-46.
The most common, yet also the leading cause of poor long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm neonates is periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).
[6]
Abiramalatha T, Bandyopadhyay T, Ramaswamy VV, et al. Risk Factors for Periventricular Leukomalacia in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and GRADE-Based Assessment of Certainty of Evidence. Pediatr Neurol. 2021; 124: 51-71.
Periventricular leukomalacia is an ischemic white matter injury, which characterized by focal necrotic lesion and diffuse gliosis around ventricles area.
[8]
Soul JS. Intracranial Hemorrhage and White Matter Injury/Periventricular Leukomalacia. In: Hansen A, Stark A, Eichenwald E, Martin C, editors. Cloherty and Stark’s Manual of Neonatal Care. NInth. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2023. p. 819-23.
[9]
Gomella TL, Eyal F, Bany-Mohammed F, editors. Intracranial hemorrhage. Gomella’s Neonatology. Eighth. United States: McGraw-Hill; 2020. p. 959-60.
[8, 9]
The two suggested main mechanisms that involved in pathogenesis of PVL are hypoxia-ischemia and inflammation/infection.
[8]
Soul JS. Intracranial Hemorrhage and White Matter Injury/Periventricular Leukomalacia. In: Hansen A, Stark A, Eichenwald E, Martin C, editors. Cloherty and Stark’s Manual of Neonatal Care. NInth. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2023. p. 819-23.
[10]
Kinney HC, Volpe JJ. Encephalopathy of Prematurity. Volpe’s Neurology of the Newborn. Elsevier; 2018. p. 389-404.
Prevalence of white matter injury in preterm neonates, based on a recent systematic review, was 39.6% for extremely preterm neonates and 27.4% for very preterm neonates, and 7.3 for moderately and late preterm neonates.
[11]
Romero-Guzman GJ, Lopez-Munoz F. Prevalence and risk factors for periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants. A systematic review. Rev Neurol. 2017; 65: 57-62.
[11]
Decreasing gestational age of preterm neonates is associated with higher incidence of PVL. [11, 12] However, the true incidence of PVL remains unclear because of the spectrum of injury, neuroimaging modalities, and timing of imaging.
[5]
Schneider J, Miller SP. Preterm brain Injury: White matter injury. Handb Clin Neurol. Elsevier B. V.; 2019. p. 155-72.
Soul JS. Intracranial Hemorrhage and White Matter Injury/Periventricular Leukomalacia. In: Hansen A, Stark A, Eichenwald E, Martin C, editors. Cloherty and Stark’s Manual of Neonatal Care. NInth. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2023. p. 819-23.
[13]
Hinojosa-Rodríguez M, Harmony T, Carrillo-Prado C, et al. Clinical neuroimaging in the preterm infant: Diagnosis and prognosis. Neuroimage Clin. Elsevier Inc.; 2017. p. 355-68.
In Indonesia, the prevalence of PVL is not known yet. The only published study regarding PVL from Indonesia is a single center study in 2003. This study found that prevalence of PVL in neonates with gestational age less than 32 weeks and more than 32 weeks were 6/21 and 13/30.
[15]
Firman K, Amir I, Kurniati N, et al. Periventricular leucomalacia in premature infantsin neonatal ward, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital: A preliminary study. Pediatrica Indonesiana. 2004; 44: 121-6.
[15]
Therefore, we conducted this study to find out the prevalence of PVL and provide baseline characteristics of PVL.
2. Methods
This descriptive study enrolled all term or preterm neonates diagnosed with PVL that were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or neonatology ward in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin from February 2021 to January 2023. The PVL diagnosis was made by head ultrasonography performed by radiologist at Ulin General Hospital, others were excluded. The data were collected from medical record. Informed consent was obtained prior. Incomplete medical record data were also excluded.
The data include gestational age, gender, birth weight, birth length, risk factors (chorioamnionitis, premature rupture of membrane, fetal distress, preeclampsia/ hypertension, diabetes, maternal age, etc), type of delivery, multiple pregnancy, age at diagnosis, PVL grade, maternal age, date of admission and discharge, length of hospital stay, other diagnosis (primary and secondary diagnosis), oxygenation, history of blood transfusion, and place of birth (in hospital birth or referral from other hospitals and health facilities). The PVL diagnosis was made by head ultrasound examinations that was done by our hospital radiologist.
2.1. Head Ultrasound Examination
The head ultrasound examinations were done during hospitalization, at 10 to 14 days of life if possible, or after the patients didn’t require any oxygen supplementation. Findings of PVL from ultrasound were graded as following: (I) increased echogenicity in periventricular white matter with bilateral but asymmetric distribution (noncystic PVL); (II) localized small cysts that can be located around central grove or at frontal region (microcysts); (III) widespread cysts, extending to the fronto-parietal and occipital regions (cystic PVL); (IV) extensive cysts that located in subcortical white matter (subcortical PVL or multicystic encephalomalacia). [14, 16, 17]
2.2. Statistical Analysis
Data were collected as continuous and categorical variables. Descriptive analysis was done using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Continuous data were reported as median or mean and categorical data were reported as frequencies and proportions.
3. Results
Nineteen neonates were identified with confirmed PVL diagnosis, 15 neonates (78.9%) were grade I and other were grade II. Of 19 neonates, only 1 was born full-term, with gestational age 39 weeks. The preterm neonates, based on gestational age, 7/18 were very preterm, 7/18 were moderate preterm, and 4/18 were late preterm neonates. Twelve neonates were referral from other hospital or heath care facilities and the rest was born in our hospital. The baseline characteristics of periventricular leukomalacia are listed in Table 1.
The total preterm neonates during our study period were 409 neonates, in which 300 neonates were born at our hospital. The other 109 neonates were referred from regional hospitals to our hospital (tertiary hospital). There were 28 extremely preterm neonates, 94 very preterm neonates, 90 moderate preterm neonates, and 191 late preterm neonates. The overall prevalence rate of PVL in preterm neonates at our hospital was 4.4% (18/409). Prevalence of PVL in neonates below 32 weeks was 5.7% (7/122). In four neonates, diagnosis of PVL were made within 10-14 days of life and others were made after 2 weeks of life.
The median birthweight was 1700 gram, with the highest weight was 4400 gram and the lowest weight was 1140 gram. Our study consists of 7/19 very low birth weight neonates, 10/19 low birth weight neonates, one normal birth weight neonates and one macrosomia neonates. PVL risk factors were divided into prenatal period and neonatal period. Almost all of them had respiratory distress and sepsis. Four neonates experienced seizure. We also found 2 cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), one with hydrocephalus, and one with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Only one neonate never got any blood transfusion during hospitalization. None of the neonates died during hospitalization. All of the neonates were discharge and sent to the outpatient clinic for long-term follow-up.
Table 1. Baseline characteristics of periventricular leukomalacia.
The prevalence of PVL in our hospital was 4.4% which was lower than reported in a systematic review (7.3%).
[11]
Romero-Guzman GJ, Lopez-Munoz F. Prevalence and risk factors for periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants. A systematic review. Rev Neurol. 2017; 65: 57-62.
[11]
This number was also lower than reported in China, Korea, and India.
[14]
Liu J, Li J, Qin GL, et al. Periventricular leukomalacia in premature infants in Mainland China. Am J Perinatol. 2008; 25: 535-40.
Most of the premature neonates with PVL (66.7%) were born >32 weeks of gestation. There was no patient with gestational age <28 weeks in our study. Kurniati N et al. also reported similar results.
[15]
Firman K, Amir I, Kurniati N, et al. Periventricular leucomalacia in premature infantsin neonatal ward, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital: A preliminary study. Pediatrica Indonesiana. 2004; 44: 121-6.
[15]
Conversely, previous studies reported increased incidence inversely related to gestational age.
[14]
Liu J, Li J, Qin GL, et al. Periventricular leukomalacia in premature infants in Mainland China. Am J Perinatol. 2008; 25: 535-40.
Wang et al. showed that gestation age did not vary within the cystic PVL neonates. The cystic PVL prevalence rate increased from 3.5% to 10.8% with decreased gestational age, 30 weeks to 23 weeks.
[21]
Wang LW, Lin YC, Tu YF, et al. Isolated Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia Differs from Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia with Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes in Preterm Infants. Neonatology. 2016; 111: 86-92.
This result might be due to the high mortality rate in neonates below 32 weeks, especially the ones below 28 weeks of gestation. While in our hospital, bedside head ultrasound by a radiologist wasn’t available so neonates were sent to the radiology department for this examination.
We had one full-term neonate with PVL who presented with neonatal seizure, SAH, and HIE. Periventricular leukomalacia might affect term neonates under some circumstances.
[5]
Schneider J, Miller SP. Preterm brain Injury: White matter injury. Handb Clin Neurol. Elsevier B. V.; 2019. p. 155-72.
Lasry O et al. reported 15-term neonates with PVL and cerebral palsy. It was suggested that timing of injury, such as early insults in the second to early third trimester during pregnancy, is comparable to “vulnerable period” in premature-born brain; or perinatal insults
[22]
Lasry O, Shevell MI, Dagenais L. Cross-sectional comparison of periventricular leukomalacia in preterm and term children on behalf of the REPACQ Consortium. Neurology. 2010; 74: 1386-91.
[22]
. These suggest that hypoxic-ischemic events and infection/inflammation during the perinatal period could lead to the development of PVL in term neonates.
Periventricular leukomalacia is the most common form of cerebral white matter injury (WMI) in preterm neonates.
[23]
Back SA. Cerebral White and Gray Matter Injury in Newborns: New Insights into Pathophysiology and Management. Clin Perinatol. 2014. p. 1-24.
In the past decades, advances in perinatal care have improved the survival of preterm neonates. Of these neonates, preterm birth complications could result in disabilities and decreased quality of life
[24]
Pregnolato S, Chakkarapani E, Isles AR, et al. Glutamate transport and preterm brain injury. Front Physiol. 2019; 10: 417.
Throughout this period, cerebral white matter is predominated by preoligodendrocytes (pre-OL). Preoligodendrocytes are very susceptible to hypoxia-ischemia, infection, and inflammation. These insults cause degeneration of pre-OL which leads to arrest pre-OL maturation and abnormal myelination. Disturbance of myelination will result in diffuse WMI
[10]
Kinney HC, Volpe JJ. Encephalopathy of Prematurity. Volpe’s Neurology of the Newborn. Elsevier; 2018. p. 389-404.
Grade I PVL (diffuse PVL) accounted for 78.9% of neonates and grade II was 21.1%. Diffuse PVL is the most observed form in premature neonates nowadays.
[14]
Liu J, Li J, Qin GL, et al. Periventricular leukomalacia in premature infants in Mainland China. Am J Perinatol. 2008; 25: 535-40.
The overall burden of cystic and microcystic PVL, as the major form of PVL in preterm neonates previously, has decreased significantly by less than 5% of PVL cases.
[25]
Back SA. Brain injury in the preterm infant: New horizons for pathogenesis and prevention. Pediatr Neurol. Elsevier Inc.; 2015. p. 185-92.
Perinatal risk factors such as chorioamnionitis and premature rupture of membrane have been associated with neonatal white matter injury.
[6]
Abiramalatha T, Bandyopadhyay T, Ramaswamy VV, et al. Risk Factors for Periventricular Leukomalacia in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and GRADE-Based Assessment of Certainty of Evidence. Pediatr Neurol. 2021; 124: 51-71.
However, in our study, we didn’t find chorioamnionitis in our cases medical records. As for premature rupture of membrane, we found 4/19 (21.1%) neonates, which is lower than other studies by Liu J et al. (36.7%).
[14]
Liu J, Li J, Qin GL, et al. Periventricular leukomalacia in premature infants in Mainland China. Am J Perinatol. 2008; 25: 535-40.
Neonatal sepsis was significantly higher and considered as important risk factor for PVL according to studies.
[6]
Abiramalatha T, Bandyopadhyay T, Ramaswamy VV, et al. Risk Factors for Periventricular Leukomalacia in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and GRADE-Based Assessment of Certainty of Evidence. Pediatr Neurol. 2021; 124: 51-71.
Wang LW, Lin YC, Tu YF, et al. Isolated Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia Differs from Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia with Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes in Preterm Infants. Neonatology. 2016; 111: 86-92.
Study by Firman K et al. reported 17/19 neonates had respiratory distress.
[15]
Firman K, Amir I, Kurniati N, et al. Periventricular leucomalacia in premature infantsin neonatal ward, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital: A preliminary study. Pediatrica Indonesiana. 2004; 44: 121-6.
[15]
In our study, neonatal sepsis and respiratory distress were found in almost of PVL neonates. Neonatal seizure occurred in 21% of all neonates in this study. It was lower than was reported in K. I. Al Tawil et al. study (35%) and Tsimis et al. (28.6%).
[7]
Al Tawil KI, El Mahdy HS, Al Rifai MT, et al. Risk factors for isolated periventricular leukomalacia. Pediatr Neurol. 2012; 46: 149-53.
Tsimis ME, Johnson CT, Raghunathan RS, et al. Risk factors for periventricular white matter injury in very low birthweight neonates. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 214: 380. e1-380. e6.
Wang et al. reported the number of multiple births in cystic PVL patients was 20/93 (21.5%).
[21]
Wang LW, Lin YC, Tu YF, et al. Isolated Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia Differs from Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia with Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes in Preterm Infants. Neonatology. 2016; 111: 86-92.
Tsimis et al. showed lower rate 14.3% (5/35). As for blood transfusion in PVL neonates, 18/19 had blood transfusion during hospitalization. A systematic review and meta-analysis by Wang P et al. concluded that restrictive transfusion in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates was not related with increased incidences of PVL.
[30]
Wang P, Wang X, Deng H, et al. Restrictive versus liberal transfusion thresholds in very low birth weight infants: A systematic review with meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2021; 16: e0256810.
Otherwise, in another study, PVL rates were much lower in VLBW neonates receiving restrictive transfusion than neonates receiving liberal transfusion.
[31]
Knee D, Knoop S, Davis AT, et al. Outcomes after implementing restrictive blood transfusion criteria in extremely premature infants. Journal of Perinatology. 2019; 39: 1089-97.
Periventricular leukomalacia is the most common brain injury in preterm neonates. Nevertheless, full-term neonates might be affected under certain conditions. Advanced neuroimaging like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered as the gold standard to identify PVL. Still, head ultrasound is the preferred method for initial screening and follow-up studies of PVL.
[16]
Agut T, Alarcon A, Cabañas F, et al. Preterm white matter injury: ultrasound diagnosis and classification. Pediatr Res. 2020; 87: 37-49.
In this study, we used head ultrasound to diagnose PVL. Although head ultrasound has been revealed to be sensitive in identifying PVL, serial examination should be done because it could miss noncystic PVL
[14]
Liu J, Li J, Qin GL, et al. Periventricular leukomalacia in premature infants in Mainland China. Am J Perinatol. 2008; 25: 535-40.
. There are several limitations in this study. This is a single-center, descriptive study that included small sample size. We only included PVL patients who were diagnosed during hospitalization. The timing of the diagnosis varied because a bedside head ultrasound was unavailable. Also, assuming a higher prevalence of PVL in preterm neonates than this study reported given the possibility that PVL in unstable extremely premature neonates was not detected due to limited hospital resources.
5. Conclusion
The prevalence of PVL in preterm neonates with gestational age below 32 weeks was lower than previously reported, probably because of the high mortality rate of this group in our hospital. Diffuse (noncystic) PVL was the predominant ultrasound finding in our study. Sepsis and respiratory distress were found in more than half of our patients and almost all neonates received blood transfusion. These neonatal risk factors could be associated with PVL. Further studies are needed to evaluate these possible risk factors for PVL.
Abbreviations
FFP
Fresh Frozen Plasma
HIE
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
NICU
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NIV
Non-Invasive Ventilation
PRC
Packed Red Cell
PVL
Periventricular Leukomalacia
SAH
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
TC
Thrombocyte Concentrate
VLBW
Very Low Birth Weight
WMI
White Matter Injury
Acknowledgments
Special thanks should be given to our radiologist for performing the head ultrasound.
Authors Contributions
Fabiola Vania Felicia: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing
Chawanpaiboon S, Vogel JP, Moller AB, et al. Global, regional, and national estimates of levels of preterm birth in 2014: a systematic review and modelling analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2019; 7: e37-46.
Abiramalatha T, Bandyopadhyay T, Ramaswamy VV, et al. Risk Factors for Periventricular Leukomalacia in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and GRADE-Based Assessment of Certainty of Evidence. Pediatr Neurol. 2021; 124: 51-71.
Soul JS. Intracranial Hemorrhage and White Matter Injury/Periventricular Leukomalacia. In: Hansen A, Stark A, Eichenwald E, Martin C, editors. Cloherty and Stark’s Manual of Neonatal Care. NInth. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2023. p. 819-23.
[9]
Gomella TL, Eyal F, Bany-Mohammed F, editors. Intracranial hemorrhage. Gomella’s Neonatology. Eighth. United States: McGraw-Hill; 2020. p. 959-60.
[10]
Kinney HC, Volpe JJ. Encephalopathy of Prematurity. Volpe’s Neurology of the Newborn. Elsevier; 2018. p. 389-404.
Romero-Guzman GJ, Lopez-Munoz F. Prevalence and risk factors for periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants. A systematic review. Rev Neurol. 2017; 65: 57-62.
[12]
Chu CH, Sung CC, Hu CF, Chen SJ. Neonatal seizure caused by periventricular leukomalacia resulting from maternal protein S deficiency and treated with aspirin. Pediatr Neonatol. 2022; 63: 86-8.
Hinojosa-Rodríguez M, Harmony T, Carrillo-Prado C, et al. Clinical neuroimaging in the preterm infant: Diagnosis and prognosis. Neuroimage Clin. Elsevier Inc.; 2017. p. 355-68.
Firman K, Amir I, Kurniati N, et al. Periventricular leucomalacia in premature infantsin neonatal ward, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital: A preliminary study. Pediatrica Indonesiana. 2004; 44: 121-6.
[16]
Agut T, Alarcon A, Cabañas F, et al. Preterm white matter injury: ultrasound diagnosis and classification. Pediatr Res. 2020; 87: 37-49.
Wang LW, Lin YC, Tu YF, et al. Isolated Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia Differs from Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia with Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes in Preterm Infants. Neonatology. 2016; 111: 86-92.
Lasry O, Shevell MI, Dagenais L. Cross-sectional comparison of periventricular leukomalacia in preterm and term children on behalf of the REPACQ Consortium. Neurology. 2010; 74: 1386-91.
[23]
Back SA. Cerebral White and Gray Matter Injury in Newborns: New Insights into Pathophysiology and Management. Clin Perinatol. 2014. p. 1-24.
Tsimis ME, Johnson CT, Raghunathan RS, et al. Risk factors for periventricular white matter injury in very low birthweight neonates. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 214: 380. e1-380. e6.
Wang P, Wang X, Deng H, et al. Restrictive versus liberal transfusion thresholds in very low birth weight infants: A systematic review with meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2021; 16: e0256810.
Knee D, Knoop S, Davis AT, et al. Outcomes after implementing restrictive blood transfusion criteria in extremely premature infants. Journal of Perinatology. 2019; 39: 1089-97.
Felicia, F. V., Halim, P. G., Yunanto, A., Andayani, P. (2025). Periventricular Leukomalacia in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin: A Prevalence and Baseline Characteristics Study. European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, 11(4), 43-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
Felicia, F. V.; Halim, P. G.; Yunanto, A.; Andayani, P. Periventricular Leukomalacia in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin: A Prevalence and Baseline Characteristics Study. Eur. J. Clin. Biomed. Sci.2025, 11(4), 43-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
Felicia FV, Halim PG, Yunanto A, Andayani P. Periventricular Leukomalacia in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin: A Prevalence and Baseline Characteristics Study. Eur J Clin Biomed Sci. 2025;11(4):43-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
@article{10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11,
author = {Fabiola Vania Felicia and Pricilia Gunawan Halim and Ari Yunanto and Pudji Andayani},
title = {Periventricular Leukomalacia in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin: A Prevalence and Baseline Characteristics Study
},
journal = {European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {43-48},
doi = {10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejcbs.20251104.11},
abstract = {Preterm neonates are at high risk of long-term neurodevelopmental morbidities. Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is the main form of brain injury and is mostly found in premature neonates. This study aims to discover the prevalence of PVL and provide baseline characteristics of PVL. The study included term and preterm neonates diagnosed with PVL, detected by head ultrasound, during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or neonatology ward in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin from February 2021 to January 2023. Data were gathered from medical records. During the study, nineteen patients were enrolled, 18 preterm neonates (<37 weeks of gestation) and one full-term neonate. The mean gestational age was 32.3 + 2.5 weeks. The overall prevalence rate of PVL in preterm neonates was 4.4% (18/409), and in extremely preterm neonates was 5.7% (7/122). Diffuse PVL is the most common form of PVL (78.9%). The risk factors revealed were sepsis and respiratory distress. Blood transfusion was found in nearly all of the neonates. The prevalence of extremely preterm neonates with PVL was lower than previously reported due to limited resources (absence of bedside ultrasound). Diffuse (non-cystic) PVL was the predominant ultrasound finding. Common neonatal risk factors such as sepsis, respiratory distress, and blood transfusion could be related to PVL.},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Periventricular Leukomalacia in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin: A Prevalence and Baseline Characteristics Study
AU - Fabiola Vania Felicia
AU - Pricilia Gunawan Halim
AU - Ari Yunanto
AU - Pudji Andayani
Y1 - 2025/08/27
PY - 2025
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
DO - 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
T2 - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
JF - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
JO - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
SP - 43
EP - 48
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2575-5005
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
AB - Preterm neonates are at high risk of long-term neurodevelopmental morbidities. Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is the main form of brain injury and is mostly found in premature neonates. This study aims to discover the prevalence of PVL and provide baseline characteristics of PVL. The study included term and preterm neonates diagnosed with PVL, detected by head ultrasound, during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or neonatology ward in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin from February 2021 to January 2023. Data were gathered from medical records. During the study, nineteen patients were enrolled, 18 preterm neonates (<37 weeks of gestation) and one full-term neonate. The mean gestational age was 32.3 + 2.5 weeks. The overall prevalence rate of PVL in preterm neonates was 4.4% (18/409), and in extremely preterm neonates was 5.7% (7/122). Diffuse PVL is the most common form of PVL (78.9%). The risk factors revealed were sepsis and respiratory distress. Blood transfusion was found in nearly all of the neonates. The prevalence of extremely preterm neonates with PVL was lower than previously reported due to limited resources (absence of bedside ultrasound). Diffuse (non-cystic) PVL was the predominant ultrasound finding. Common neonatal risk factors such as sepsis, respiratory distress, and blood transfusion could be related to PVL.
VL - 11
IS - 4
ER -
Felicia, F. V., Halim, P. G., Yunanto, A., Andayani, P. (2025). Periventricular Leukomalacia in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin: A Prevalence and Baseline Characteristics Study. European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, 11(4), 43-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
Felicia, F. V.; Halim, P. G.; Yunanto, A.; Andayani, P. Periventricular Leukomalacia in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin: A Prevalence and Baseline Characteristics Study. Eur. J. Clin. Biomed. Sci.2025, 11(4), 43-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
Felicia FV, Halim PG, Yunanto A, Andayani P. Periventricular Leukomalacia in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin: A Prevalence and Baseline Characteristics Study. Eur J Clin Biomed Sci. 2025;11(4):43-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
@article{10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11,
author = {Fabiola Vania Felicia and Pricilia Gunawan Halim and Ari Yunanto and Pudji Andayani},
title = {Periventricular Leukomalacia in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin: A Prevalence and Baseline Characteristics Study
},
journal = {European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {43-48},
doi = {10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejcbs.20251104.11},
abstract = {Preterm neonates are at high risk of long-term neurodevelopmental morbidities. Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is the main form of brain injury and is mostly found in premature neonates. This study aims to discover the prevalence of PVL and provide baseline characteristics of PVL. The study included term and preterm neonates diagnosed with PVL, detected by head ultrasound, during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or neonatology ward in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin from February 2021 to January 2023. Data were gathered from medical records. During the study, nineteen patients were enrolled, 18 preterm neonates (<37 weeks of gestation) and one full-term neonate. The mean gestational age was 32.3 + 2.5 weeks. The overall prevalence rate of PVL in preterm neonates was 4.4% (18/409), and in extremely preterm neonates was 5.7% (7/122). Diffuse PVL is the most common form of PVL (78.9%). The risk factors revealed were sepsis and respiratory distress. Blood transfusion was found in nearly all of the neonates. The prevalence of extremely preterm neonates with PVL was lower than previously reported due to limited resources (absence of bedside ultrasound). Diffuse (non-cystic) PVL was the predominant ultrasound finding. Common neonatal risk factors such as sepsis, respiratory distress, and blood transfusion could be related to PVL.},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Periventricular Leukomalacia in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin: A Prevalence and Baseline Characteristics Study
AU - Fabiola Vania Felicia
AU - Pricilia Gunawan Halim
AU - Ari Yunanto
AU - Pudji Andayani
Y1 - 2025/08/27
PY - 2025
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
DO - 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
T2 - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
JF - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
JO - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
SP - 43
EP - 48
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2575-5005
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20251104.11
AB - Preterm neonates are at high risk of long-term neurodevelopmental morbidities. Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is the main form of brain injury and is mostly found in premature neonates. This study aims to discover the prevalence of PVL and provide baseline characteristics of PVL. The study included term and preterm neonates diagnosed with PVL, detected by head ultrasound, during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or neonatology ward in Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin from February 2021 to January 2023. Data were gathered from medical records. During the study, nineteen patients were enrolled, 18 preterm neonates (<37 weeks of gestation) and one full-term neonate. The mean gestational age was 32.3 + 2.5 weeks. The overall prevalence rate of PVL in preterm neonates was 4.4% (18/409), and in extremely preterm neonates was 5.7% (7/122). Diffuse PVL is the most common form of PVL (78.9%). The risk factors revealed were sepsis and respiratory distress. Blood transfusion was found in nearly all of the neonates. The prevalence of extremely preterm neonates with PVL was lower than previously reported due to limited resources (absence of bedside ultrasound). Diffuse (non-cystic) PVL was the predominant ultrasound finding. Common neonatal risk factors such as sepsis, respiratory distress, and blood transfusion could be related to PVL.
VL - 11
IS - 4
ER -
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