[A longitudinal study of blood flow velocities in the anterior cerebral artery and the internal cerebral vein in the neonatal period].

Flow velocities in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and the internal cerebral vein (ICV) were studied by a Doppler ultrasound technique. A longitudinal study was undertaken on 59 newborn infants during the first month of life. The newborn infants were classified into 3 groups: 22 term infants, 21 preterm infants, and 16 very low birth weight infants. A rapid linear increase of flow velocities was found in the ACA in the first month of life with higher velocities in neonates of higher birth weight. The index of resistance was not significantly different among the 3 groups. A linear increase of flow velocities was also found in the ICV in the same period. The velocities in the ICV were correlated with those in the ACA. These data suggest that the increasing velocities probably reflect the increasing cerebral blood flow during the first month of life.