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Periventricular leukomalacia - Treatment

Alternative Names

PVL; Brain injury - infants

Treatment:

There is no treatment for PVL. The baby's heart, lung, intestine, and kidney functions will be monitored and treated so they remain as normal as possible.

Expectations (prognosis):

PVL is frequently associated with neurological and developmental problems in growing babies, usually during the first to second year of life. It may lead to cerebral palsy (CP), especially spasticity (tightness, or increased muscle tone) in the legs.

Babies with PVL are at risk for significant neurological problems, especially those that involve movements such as sitting, crawling, walking, and moving the arms. These babies may need physical therapy.

A baby diagnosed with PVL should be monitored by a developmental pediatrician or a pediatric neurologist, in addition to the child's regular pediatrician.

Reviewed last on: 12/17/2009
Kimberly G Lee, MD, MSc, IBCLC, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Volpe JJ. Neurology of the Newborn. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008; chap 8.

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