RESUMO
BACKGROUND: the periventricular leukomalacia (PLM) is considered a lesion of the central nervous system secondary to a hypoxic-ischemic insult, and affects more to premature than term neonates. However, the reported rates in the literature are between 2 % to 25 % in premature neonates. The objective was to determine the prevalence of PLM in premature neonates. METHODS: a two year prospective screening program with transfontanel ultrasound in premature neonates weighing < 2000 g was carried out at 4 weeks of age. RESULTS: from 38 355 consecutive deliveries 562 were premature neonates weighted = 2000 g who fulfilled inclusion criteria and all were studied with transfontanel ultrasonography; we found 36 (6.34 %) premature neonates with PLM. Of the 346 neonates weighing = 1500 g, 26 (7.5 %) had a positive examination for PLM. In the 1501 g to 2000 g group, 10 of 216 (4.6 %) had PLM. The PLM prevalence was higher in male (2:1). Neurological exam was normal at the time of study. CONCLUSIONS: the PLM was present in 6.3 % of premature neonates weighing < 2000 g with 2 affected males for each female.