"Peri" means near; "ventricular" refers to the ventricles or fluid spaces of the brain, "leukomalacia" is softening of the white matter of the brain. Periventricular leukomalacia is softening of the brain near the ventricles. The softening occurs because brain tissue in this area has died.
PVL is thought to be due to too little blood flow to that part of the brain either when the baby is a fetus in the womb, at delivery, or after delivery during the first days of life. Usually doctors do not know exactly when this occurred.
Most often the baby has no signs or symptoms. PVL is diagnosed by a test called a cranial (head) ultrasound. It is a painless test, performed at the bedside, in which sound waves are used to give a picture of the baby's brain. Because PVL usually takes a few weeks to become detectable, babies at risk for PVL are tested 4 to 8 weeks after birth. Sometimes this test will first show a suspicious area which may or may not turn out to be PVL. With serial tests it will become more clear.
There is no specific treatment for PVL.
Yes, it is common for babies who have grade III or IV IVH to also have areas of PVL.
Because PVL results from loss of brain tissue, babies with PVL are at very high risk for abnormal development later on. The more severe the PVL, the more likely a baby will develop mental or motor (movement) problems. Even babies who just had suspicious areas need to have their development followed closely.
This can be determined only over time. Near the time of discharge, the baby may be less responsive to his/her environment or to peoples' faces than babies without PVL. Serious abnormalities appear gradually. These may include:
motor (movement) problems - legs often worse than arms:
tight or stiff muscles
holding legs straight and crossed most of the time
difficulty sitting
slow to crawl, stand, or walk or inability to do these
abnormal crawling, toe walking
frequent arching of the back (not just when angry or at play)
slow mental development
does not listen to your voice by age 3-4 months after hospital discharge
does not make different sounds by 8-9 months after discharge
doesn't seem to understand or say any words by one year after discharge
seizures - not common
poor hearing or deafness
poor vision
Less serious problems appear more slowly, are more difficult to detect, and may not be obvious until preschool or grade school. These can include:
poor coordination or balance
specific learning disabilities (math or reading)
very short attention span
behavioral problems
difficulty with activities that require coordination of the eyes and hands; for example, catching a ball or copying a simple drawing
It is very important for babies who have PVL to receive close follow-up of their development. If your baby has PVL, s/he may be eligible for a developmental intervention program. Anytime in the future if you are concerned about something that you think might be abnormal, have it checked out by your baby's doctor.