Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a
type of brain injury that affects infants.
The condition includes death of small
areas of brain tissue around fluid-filled
areas called ventricles.
PVL is caused by changes in the blood flow
in the area around the ventricles of the
brain. This area is fragile and prone to
injury, especially before 32 weeks of
gestation. Premature babies have high risk
for getting PVL.
PVL can be manifested with motor disorders
(paralyses and difficult movements such as
sitting, crawling, walking, and moving the
arms), 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.
This condition can be diagnosed with
ultrasound scan and MRI imaging.
There is no treatment for PVL because
necrotized brain tissue can’t be
regenerated. Physiotherapy is used to
enable the remaining brain reserves that
are not damaged but need to be awakened.
Condition of the other systems (lungs,
heart, intestines, kidneys…) should be
regularly monitored.
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