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Periventricular leukomalacia
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| Periventricular leukomalacia |
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Alternative Names:
PVL; Brain injury - infants
Definition:
PVL is a type of brain injury. PVL actually represent small “holes” in the brain due to the death of small areas of brain tissue around the normal fluid-filled cavities of the brain (known as “ventricles”, hence the term “periventricular”). The tissue in this area appears white on examination (thus it is often referred to as “white matter”), in contrast to the “gray” appearance of much the rest of the brain. Text Continues Below
PVL is frequently associated with the development of neurological and developmental problems in growing babies, usually during the first to second year of life. Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
PVL is much more common in preterm infants than in term newborns. A major cause is thought to be poor blood flow to the area around the ventricles of the brain, which is fragile and prone to injury. Infection around the time of delivery may also play a role in causing PVL. The more premature your baby is, and the sicker your baby is, the higher the risk for PVL.
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