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Introducción: El objetivo principal de este trabajo es conocerlas características neuropsicológicas de un grupo de niños prematuros y con bajo peso al nacimiento, teniendo en cuenta su heterogeneidad y sus rasgos comunes, la gravedad de los síntomas y la necesidad de recibir cuidados específicos. Pacientes y métodos: El grupo estaba formado por 73 sujetos en total, 33 niños y 40 niñas. El número de sujetos en el grupo de bajo peso (GBP) fue de 23 y el del grupo control (GC) de 50. La media de edad en el momento de la recogida de datos fue de 32,65 meses en el GBP y de 31,9 meses para el GC. El estatus socioeconómico de ambos grupos era de tipo medio. Los estadísticos descriptivos de ambos grupos son: «semanas de gestación» con grupo pretérmino (<32 semanas) y grupo control (>37 semanas) y, «peso al nacimiento» con grupo de bajo peso (<1.500 g) y grupo control (>2.500 g). Se evaluó a los participantes mediante una batería de pruebas neuropsicológicas creada específicamente para este estudio. Resultados: El GC obtuvo mejores resultados en casi todas las funciones, pero no todas resultaron estadísticamente significativas, sólo «articulación, lenguaje expresivo y reconocimiento de figuras». Por el contrario, el GBP obtuvo resultados estadísticamente significativos en «reconocimiento de colores». Conclusiones: Se postula la necesidad de realizar un diagnóstico neuropsicológico precoz en los niños de bajo peso al nacer por pertenecer a una población de alto riesgo(AU)

Introduction: The primary target of this work is to know the neuropsychological characteristics of one premature children and with low weight in the birth group, considering it's heterogeneity, common characteristics, the gravity of the symptoms and the necessity to receive specific cares. Patients and methods: The total group is formed by 73 subjects, 33 males and 40 females. The number of subjects of low weight group (LWG) are 23 and the subjects of control group (CG) 50. The average ages at the time of the sample were of 32.65 months, GBP and of 31.9 months GC. The socioeconomic status of both groups were average type. Statistical descriptive of both groups are "weeks of gestation" with the group preterm (<32 weeks) and the control group (>37 weeks) and "weight in the birth", the group of very low weight (<1,500 g) and the control group (>2,500 g). The subjects are evaluated through a neuropsychological battery of tests created for this study. Results: The LWG obtains better results in almost functions but not all are statistically significant, only "articulation, expressive language and recognition of figures". In the other way, the CG obtains statistically significant results in "recognition of colors". Conclusions: We postulate the necessity to realise a precocious neuropsychologycal diagnostic in the children with low weight birth because they belong to a high-risk group(AU)

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INTRODUCTION: Bioelectrical behaviour was studied in a group of low birth weight children. AIM: To evaluate whether the characteristics of the waves of the brain potentials in these children, who weighed less than 1500 g at birth and experienced anomalous circumstances and events during their perinatal period, would help reach an early diagnosis of the possible developmental disorders they might suffer later on in life. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Both visual and auditory cerebral evoked potentials were recorded in a group of children born underweight and the results were compared with the findings from another group of healthy children who were born in normal physiological conditions and were apparently free of any kind of pathology. RESULTS: In the waves and locations that were examined, the problem group displayed latencies that were longer than those of the control group; in contrast, no statistically significant differences were found in the amplitude, regardless of the location. Low gestational age and lower weight made latencies longer, but no relationship was found between latencies and the other perinatal features that were studied. CONCLUSIONS: Children with low weight at birth have slower wave latencies than normal children. This slowing, which is inversely proportional to the weight and weeks of gestation, is considered to be an anomalous sign that could be related to brain immaturity, delayed development or to disorders affecting myelination. Moreover, the amplitude, which has received far less attention from researchers, is usually shorter in these processes, although in our study we found no differences with the group of healthy children--only very slightly in the P300, in the weeks and the weight, and the N100 only in one location with respect to weight. Since these children usually have developmental disorders, the use of evoked potentials could be a very useful tool in their detection and ensuing therapy.

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Introducción. Se estudió el comportamiento bioeléctrico en un grupo de niños con bajo peso al nacer. Objetivo. Valorar si las características de las ondas de los potenciales cerebrales en estos niños con pesos menores de 1.500 g en el momento del nacimiento, que sufrieron circunstancias y accidentes anómalos durante su etapa perinatal, ayudarían en el diagnóstico precoz de las posibles alteraciones del desarrollo que eventualmente pudieran presentar. Sujetos y métodos. Se realizaron los potenciales evocados cerebrales tanto visuales como auditivos en un grupo de niños de bajo peso en el momento del nacimiento y los resultados se compararon con los hallados en otro grupo de niños sanos, que nacieron en condiciones fisiológicas y en los que no se ha detectado patología alguna. Resultados. En las ondas y las localizaciones examinadas, el grupo problema presentó unas latencias más alargadas que el grupo control; en cambio, no se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la amplitud, con independencia de la localización. La corta edad gestacional y el menor peso alargan las latencias, pero no hemos encontrado relación alguna entre las latencias y el resto de las características perinatales estudiadas. Conclusiones. Los niños de muy bajo peso en el momento del nacimiento tienen lentificada la latencia de las ondas con respecto a los niños normales. Esta lentitud, que es inversamente proporcional al peso y a las semanas de gestación, es considerada como un signo anómalo que pudiera estar en relación con la inmadurez cerebral, con el retardo del desarrollo o con la alteración de la mielinización. Por otro lado, la amplitud, mucho menos estudiada, suele estar acortada en esos procesos, aunque en nuestro estudio no encontramos diferencias con el grupo de niños sanos; sólo escasamente en la P300, en las semanas y en el peso, y la N100 únicamente en una localización en relación con el peso. Como esta colectividad de niños suele presentar trastornos del desarrollo, la utilización de potenciales evocados podría constituir una herramienta de gran utilidad para su detección y posterior terapia (AU)

Introduction. Bioelectrical behaviour was studied in a group of low birth weight children. Aim. To evaluate whether the characteristics of the waves of the brain potentials in these children, who weighed less than 1500 g at birth and experienced anomalous circumstances and events during their perinatal period, would help reach an early diagnosis of the possible developmental disorders they might suffer later on in life. Subjects and methods. Both visual and auditory cerebral evoked potentials were recorded in a group of children born underweight and the results were compared with the findings from another group of healthy children who were born in normal physiological conditions and were apparently free of any kind of pathology. Results. In the waves and locations that were examined, the problem group displayed latencies that were longer than those of the control group; in contrast, no statistically significant differences were found in the amplitude, regardless of the location. Low gestational age and lower weight made latencies longer, but no relationship was found between latencies and the other perinatal features that were studied. Conclusions. Children with low weight at birth have slower wave latencies than normal children. This slowing, which is inversely proportional to the weight and weeks of gestation, is considered to be an anomalo ussign that could be related to brain immaturity, delayed development or to disorders affecting myelination. Moreover, the amplitude, which has received far less attention from researchers, is usually shorter in these processes, although in our study we found no differences with the group of healthy children –only very slightly in the P300, in the weeks and the weight, and theN100 only in one location with respect to weight. Since these children usually have developmental disorders, the use of evoked potentials could (AU)

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INTRODUCTION: This work studies the behaviour of the N200 and P300 waves of the brain evoked potentials (BEP) in a group of very low birth weight infants and results are compared with a second group of children whose weight was normal at birth. AIMS: The objective of this study was to determine whether the N200 and, more especially, the P300 waves in children under the age of 3 could be used to assess the development and prognosis of their disorders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: BEP were performed in very low birth weight infants (taken as the test group) and in others whose weight at birth was normal (control group); the difference in ages when the potentials were recorded was not statistically significant. RESULTS: The EEG index was evaluated for both the test and the control group, and a difference was found with a significance of p < 0.001. Latency, in milliseconds, of the N200 wave and the P300 wave was recorded at the same sites for the test and control groups and showed differences with a significance of p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from the EEG and the latencies of the N200 and P300 waves in the BEP of very low birth weight infants are pathological and are linked to immaturity of the brain, which is characteristic of this population. This tool could help to detect developmental disorders and to facilitate a better approach to attending these children.

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Introducción. Se estudia el comportamiento de las ondas N200 y P300 de los potenciales evocados cerebrales (PEC) de un grupo de niños nacidos con muy bajo peso y se compara con otro de nacidos normales. Objetivos. Comprobar si la latencia de las ondas N200 y, sobre todo, de la P300, en niños mayores de 3 años, que nacieron con pesos muy bajos, podrían servir para valorar el desarrollo y el pronóstico de sus alteraciones. Pacientes y métodos. Se realizaron PEC en niños nacidos con muy bajo peso como grupo probando y en otros cuyo peso al nacer fue normal, cuya diferencia de edad en el momento de realizar los potenciales no era estadísticamente significativa. Resultados. Se evaluó el índice electroencefalográfico, tanto para el grupo probando como para el testigo, y se obtuvo una diferencia con una significación de p < 0,001. La latencia, en milisegundos de la onda N200 y de la onda P300 tomadas en las mismas localizaciones para el grupo testigo y para el grupo probando, demuestran diferencias con una significación de p < 0,001. Conclusiones. Los hallazgos encontrados en el electroencefalograma y las latencias de las ondas N200 y P300 de los PEC de los niños de muy bajo peso al nacimiento son patológicos y se relacionan con la inmadurez cerebral, propia de esta población. Esta herramienta podría ayudar para detectar trastornos del desarrollo, y facilitar un mejor tratamiento a la atención de estos niños (AU)

Introduction. This work studies the behaviour of the N200 and P300 waves of the brain evoked potentials (BEP) in a group of very low birth weight infants and results are compared with a second group of children whose weight was normal at birth. Aims. The objective of this study was to determine whether the N200 and, more especially, the P300 waves in children under the age of 3 could be used to assess the development and prognosis of their disorders. Patients and methods. BEP were performed in very low birth weight infants (taken as the test group) and in others whose weight at birth was normal (control group); the difference in ages when the potentials were recorded was not statistically significant. Results. The EEG index was evaluated for both the test and the control group, and a difference was found with a significance of p < 0.001. Latency, in milliseconds, of the N200 wave and the P300 wave was recorded at the same sites for the test and control groups and showed differences with a significance of p < 0.001. Conclusions. The findings from the EEG and the latencies of the N200 and P300 waves in the BEP of very low birth weight infants are pathological and are linked to immaturity of the brain, which is characteristic of this population. This tool could help to detect developmental disorders and to facilitate a better approach to attending these children (AU)

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