[Perinatal risk factors and intraventricular hemorrhage in newborn infants of birth weight less than or equal to 1,500 g].

In a retrospective study in 113 preterm newborns (birth weight less than or equal to 1500 g, gestational age less than 35 weeks) intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH I-IV) determined by serial sonographic examinations was correlated to a number of maternal and neonatal risk factors. While there was no significant correlation to bleeding during the gestation, premature rupture of the membranes, mode of delivery, and age of the mother, incidence of IVH was significantly lower in newborns born to mothers with EPH-gestoses (p less than 0.05). A significant high incidence of IVH was found in very premature newborns (p less than 0.025) and in newborns with hyaline membrane disease (p less than 0.005). No single risk factor for a high incidence of IVH was found. IVH in very low birth weight infants probably is caused by summation of several different perinatal risk factors.