Encephalopathy of Prematurity: Invisible Cause of the Cognitive and Behavioural Disorders

Abstract

The article explores a relatively new concept in pediatrics, neonatology and neurology – encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP). The development of understanding of the term “encephalopathy” itself is considered. It is shown that the state occurs in premature babies predominantly in the middle of pregnancy, and may be caused by neuroinflammation, impaired oligodendrocytes maturation, hypomyelination, cerebral cortex volume reduction. EoP represents a sofisticated brain damage in a preterm baby involving gray matter, especially interneurons (axonal-neuronal disease), non-cystic leukomalacia (microglia activation) with nonspecific manifestation in neonatal period, and cognitive and behavioral disorders in early childhood. Possible mechanisms of early intervention, EoP targeted therapy, and its consequences in later childhood are discussed.