Reduced hippocampal subfield volumes and memory performance in preterm children with and without germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage

• Published in: Scientific reports 2021-01, Vol.11 (1), p.2420-2420, Article 2420
• Main Authors: Fernández de Gamarra-Oca, Lexuri, Zubiaurre-Elorza, Leire, Junqué, Carme, Solana, Elisabeth, Soria-Pastor, Sara, Vázquez, Élida, Delgado, Ignacio, Macaya, Alfons, Ojeda, Natalia, Poca, Maria A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/308/3187; 692/698/1688/64; Adolescent; Brain injury; Cerebral Hemorrhage - pathology; Child; Child Development; Children; Cognitive ability; Female; Hemorrhage; Hippocampus; Hippocampus - pathology; Hippocampus - physiopathology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases - diagnosis; Infant, Premature, Diseases - etiology; Intelligence; Long-term effects; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Memory; Memory and Learning Tests; multidisciplinary; Neonates; Neuroimaging; Organ Size; Risk Factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81802-7

Preterm newborns with germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GM-IVH) are at a higher risk of evidencing neurodevelopmental alterations. Present study aimed to explore the long-term effects that GM-IVH have on hippocampal subfields, and their correlates with memory. The sample consisted of 58 participants, including 36 preterm-born (16 with GM-IVH and 20 without neonatal brain injury), and 22 full-term children aged between 6 and 15 years old. All participants underwent a cognitive assessment and magnetic resonance imaging study. GM-IVH children evidenced lower scores in Full Intelligence Quotient and memory measures compared to their low-risk preterm and full-term peers. High-risk preterm children with GM-IVH evidenced significantly lower total hippocampal volumes bilaterally and hippocampal subfield volumes compared to both low-risk preterm and full-term groups. Finally, significant positive correlations between memory and hippocampal subfield volumes were only found in preterm participants together; memory and the right CA-field correlation remained significant after Bonferroni correction was applied ( p  = .002). In conclusion, memory alterations and both global and regional volumetric reductions in the hippocampus were found to be specifically related to a preterm sample with GM-IVH. Nevertheless, results also suggest that prematurity per se has a long-lasting impact on the association between the right CA-field volume and memory during childhood.