Doctoral defence: Norman Ilves „Risk factors and onset time of periventricular hemorrhagic infarction in preterm born children and periventricular venous infarction in term born children”

On February 14th Norman Ilves will defend his doctoral thesis „Risk factors and onset time of periventricular hemorrhagic infarction in preterm born children and periventricular venous infarction in term born children”.

Supervisors:
Associate professor Pilvi Ilves, University of Tartu
Lecturer Rael Laugesaar, University of Tartu
Research fellow Mairi Männamaa, University of Tartu

Opponent:
Doctor Olga Romantšik, Lund University (Sweden).

Summary:

Stroke can occur during the entire lifetime, including the fetal and neonatal periosd. The incidence of stroke in the neonatal period is 1:1000 live births. 

Stroke in the fetal and neonatal periods leads to lifelong combined motor, cognitive and language impairment, epilepsy, and behavioral and social problems. Stroke impacts children and their families, during the entire life while substantial society resources are used for rehabilitation. Therefore, prevention and early recognition of stroke are of importance. 

The etiology of fetal stroke is not fully understood, because this stroke is relatively rare and scarcely researched. Additionally, fetal stroke does not often present with symptoms after birth and symptoms will develop later in infancy. In the case of stroke, it is crucial to initiate early rehabilitation. 

The aim of the research was to study pregnancy and delivery associated risk factors and genetic risks in preterm children with fetal development of stroke and in term born children with stroke, in whom the symptoms of fetal stroke develop during infancy. 

According to the results, infection during pregnancy is an important risk factor for brain damage in preterm and term born children. Pyelonephritis in pregnant women can increase the risk for fetal stroke 43 times. Prevention and prompt treatment of maternal genitourinary infections and other bacterial infections is essential. In neonates born to mothers with severe bacterial infection during pregnancy, neurological monitoring and cerebral ultrasonography are indicated for early detection of stroke and early rehabilitation. Children with stroke showed high prevalence of pathogenic variants in collagen genes and should be tested for familial cases. The results of the research are useful for all physicians who treat pregnant women. Maternal bacterial infection during pregnancy can damage the fetal brain and should be treated promptly.

You can watch defence via Teams.