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Leucomalacia periventricular - Overview

Nombres alternativos

PVL (LPV); Lesión cerebral en bebés

Definición:

Es un tipo de lesión cerebral que afecta a los bebés. La afección involucra la muerte de pequeñas áreas de tejido cerebral alrededor de las áreas llenas de líquido, llamadas ventrículos. El daño crea "orificios" en el cerebro. "Leuco" se refiere a la sustancia blanca del cerebro y "peri" se refiere a los ventrículos.

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

La leucomalacia periventricular es mucho más común en bebés prematuros que en recién nacidos a término.

Se cree que una causa importante de esta afección son los cambios en el flujo sanguíneo al área alrededor de los ventrículos del cerebro, una zona frágil y propensa a las lesiones, especialmente antes de las 32 semanas de gestación.

Una infección para el momento del parto también puede jugar un papel como causa de la leucomalacia periventricular. Cuanto más prematuro sea el bebé y más enfermo esté, mayor será el riesgo de desarrollo de esta enfermedad.

Los bebés prematuros que presentan hemorragia intraventricular (HIV) también están en mayor riesgo de desarrollar esta afección.

  • 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.

Referencias

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

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