Etiologies and distribution of neonatal leukomalacia

Abstract Neonatal leukomalacia was classified into 4 groups: focal (F), widespread (W), diffuse (D), and multicystic encephalomalacia (MCE) according to the distribution of ischemic necrosis in the cerebral hemisphere. The highest and lowest values of Paco 2 , Pao 2 , and pH and the lowest systolic and diastolic blood pressures were compared among each group and controls. The lowest Paco 2 values were significantly lower in MCE than in the F, W, and D (F+W+D) group or controls. The lowest values of systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the W and F+W+D groups were significantly lower than in the controls; therefore, hypocarbia can be an etiologic factor of MCE rather than periventricular leukomalacia. Hypotension may be closely related to a causal factor of neonatal leukomalacia.