PO-0393 Recovery Of Occipital-frontal Circumference Z-score Of Healthy Very Preterm Infants At Term-equivalent Age Does Not Reflect A Brain Sparing Effect

Abstract

<h3>Background and aims</h3> To evaluate the growth of occipito-frontal circumference (OFC), length and weight, between birth and term equivalent age (TEA) of very preterm infants and to compare to somatometry of term-born control infants. <h3>Methods</h3> We assessed prospectively a cohort of infants born at ≤32 weeks gestation and term control newborns. Infants with cerebral abnormalities were excluded. Measurements of OFC, length and weight were performed at birth and TEA for preterm and at birth for term infants. Brain volume was estimated by a previously described ultrasonographic model (Graca A, <i>Early Hum Dev</i> 2013). Z-scores for somatometric variables were determined based on Fenton 2013 growth charts and z-scores for estimated brain volume were defined in controls. We used paired samples t-test to compare z-scores between birth and TEA for preterms and independent samples t-test to compare z-scores between preterm infants at TEA and controls. <h3>Results</h3> We assessed 128 infants (72 preterms and 56 controls). Weight and length z-scores decreased significantly between birth and TEA and were significantly inferior to controls, whereas OFC z-scores increased and were identical at TEA to controls (Figure). Estimated brain volume was nevertheless significantly inferior for preterm infants at TEA. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Recovery of OFC z-score of healthy very preterm infants at TEA does not reflect a brain sparing effect, since despite OFC growing in a opposite direction than weight and length, estimated brain volume is significantly lower than controls.