Early Markers of Poor Outcome in Neonatal Medicine

A major issue for neonatologists and developmental neurologists is the identification of those infants who are at risk of subsequent neurodevelopmental disability and who may benefit from neurological follow-up and early intervention strategies. The incidence of major disabilities has decreased in very preterm and extremely preterm infants, although nearly half of the population suffers from minor disabilities as learning disabilities, cognitive defects, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, and behavioral problems, especially at school age. Neuroimaging needs to be accompanied by an accurate clinical assessment of the functional repertoire of the infant, which varies according to the stage of development.