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Robert S. Ware

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YNICL Journal 2025 Journal Article

Diagnostic accuracy of neonatal structural MRI scores to predict 6-year motor outcomes of children born very preterm

  • Karen H. Mistry
  • Samudragupta Bora
  • Kerstin Pannek
  • Alex M. Pagnozzi
  • Simona Fiori
  • Andrea Guzzetta
  • Robert S. Ware
  • Paul B. Colditz

AIMS: This study aimed to (1) evaluate associations between Early and Term structural MRI (sMRI) brain abnormality scores and adverse motor outcomes at 6-years corrected age (CA), (2) determine their diagnostic accuracy in predicting adverse motor outcomes and cerebral palsy (CP) at 6-years CA. METHODS: Infants born < 31-weeks gestational age (GA) returning for 6-year follow-up were included. Early and Term sMRI were scored using a validated method, deriving white matter, cortical grey matter, deep grey matter, cerebellar and global brain abnormality scores (GBAS). At 6-years CA, Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd Edition (MABC-2) was administered. Linear regression assessed associations between Early and Term GBAS/subscale scores and 6-year MABC-2 total score. For diagnostic accuracy, sMRI scores were categorised as none/mild vs moderate/severe, MABC-2 cut-off ≤ 5th percentile, and CP as present/absent. RESULTS: Infants had Early MRI (n = 123) at mean PMA 32.5-weeks (median GA 28.4-weeks; mean birthweight 1101 g) and n = 114 had Term MRI (Mean PMA 40.8-weeks). Nine had CP and n = 116 had MABC-2 scores. Early (B: -1.92; p ≤ 0.001) and Term (B: -1.67; p ≤ 0.01) GBAS were negatively associated with MABC-2 scores. Both Early and Term GBAS had high specificity (Sp) and low sensitivity (Se) in predicting MABC-2 ≤ 5th percentile (Early: Se 36 %, Sp 82 %; Term: Se 28 %, Sp 93 %) and predicted CP with high Se and Sp (Early: Se 78 %, Sp 78 %; Term: Se 75 %, Sp 89 %). CONCLUSION: High Sp of Early and Term MRI predicting an outcome on MABC-2 may help accurately identify infants unlikely to develop motor impairments at 6-years CA.

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YNICL Journal 2015 Journal Article

Validity of semi-quantitative scale for brain MRI in unilateral cerebral palsy due to periventricular white matter lesions: Relationship with hand sensorimotor function and structural connectivity

  • Simona Fiori
  • Andrea Guzzetta
  • Kerstin Pannek
  • Robert S. Ware
  • Giuseppe Rossi
  • Katrijn Klingels
  • Hilde Feys
  • Alan Coulthard

AIM: To provide first evidence of construct validity of a semi-quantitative scale for brain structural MRI (sqMRI scale) in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) secondary to periventricular white matter (PWM) lesions, by examining the relationship with hand sensorimotor function and whole brain structural connectivity. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 50 children with UCP due to PWM lesions using 3 T (MRI), diffusion MRI and assessment of hand sensorimotor function. We explored the relationship of lobar, hemispheric and global scores on the sqMRI scale, with fractional anisotropy (FA), as a measure of brain white matter microstructure, and with hand sensorimotor measures (Assisting Hand Assessment, AHA; Jebsen-Taylor Test for Hand Function, JTTHF; Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function, MUUL; stereognosis; 2-point discrimination). RESULTS: Lobar and hemispheric scores on the sqMRI scale contralateral to the clinical side of hemiplegia correlated with sensorimotor paretic hand function measures and FA of a number of brain structural connections, including connections of brain areas involved in motor control (postcentral, precentral and paracentral gyri in the parietal lobe). More severe lesions correlated with lower sensorimotor performance, with the posterior limb of internal capsule score being the strongest contributor to impaired hand function. CONCLUSION: The sqMRI scale demonstrates first evidence of construct validity against impaired motor and sensory function measures and brain structural connectivity in a cohort of children with UCP due to PWM lesions. More severe lesions correlated with poorer paretic hand sensorimotor function and impaired structural connectivity in the hemisphere contralateral to the clinical side of hemiplegia. The quantitative structural MRI scoring may be a useful clinical tool for studying brain structure-function relationships but requires further validation in other populations of CP.

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