Early Identification of Infants at Risk of Cerebral Palsy

NCT ID: NCT03211533

Last Updated: 2020-11-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 99 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-07-22
• Study Completion Date: 2020-06-23

Brief Summary

This observational study aims to early identify, through a rigorous and standardized follow-up, infants at high risk for Cerebral Palsy. After the consent agreement firmed by the parents, infants born at term or preterm with ultrasonographic evidence of brain injury considered at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders will be strictly monitored during the first months of life performing a periodic neurological assessment (Prechtl's General Movement (GMA) and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination) at term age and around 3 months of post term age. Moreover, to study more accurately the brain injury early identified by ultrasonographic brain exam, around 6 weeks of post-term age the enrolled infants will perform, as recommended in infants at risk, brain Magnetic Resonance (RM).

Thanks to the high predictability power of the combination of the clinical observation with the neuroimaging infants at high risk of CP will be early detect. Selected infants, considered at high risk for CP will have the opportunity to perform an home based and family centered early intervention later than 3 post term age.

Detailed Description

Scientific literature review shows evidence that early intervention, especially when performed in the first months of life, when the brain plasticity shows its great expressivity, has positive effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes. In this framework the early identification of infants at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders is a major prerequisite to start very early an intervention programme. To families of infants, born in Neonatal Units involved in this study, will be asked with written informed consent, to participate in this observational study that aims to early identify, through a rigorous and standardized follow-up, infants at high risk for CP. Infants born at term or preterm with ultrasonographic evidence of brain injury considered at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders will be strictly monitored during the first months of development by the clinical team (Child Neurologists and Neonatologists) performing a periodic neurological assessment through examination of the Prechtl's General Movement (GMA) and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination, at term age and around 3 months of post term age. Moreover, to study more accurately the brain injury early identified by ultrasonographic brain exam, within 6 weeks post-term age enrolled infants will perform, as recommended in infants at risk, brain Magnetic Resonance (RM). During the conventional RM examination, when possible, a fMRI perceptive task will be also performed to evaluate possible predictor factors to the responsiveness to the early intervention.

Thanks to the high predictability power of the combination of the clinical observation with the neuroimaging infants at high risk of CP will be early detect. Selected infants, considered at high risk for CP will have the opportunity to perform an home based and family centered early intervention later than 3 post term age.

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy; Preterm Infant

Keywords

infants at risk of cerebral palsy; MRI; general movements

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• neurological signs (Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination/General Movement Assessment according Precthl's).
• signs of brain injury identified at ultrasound brain exam

Exclusion Criteria

• brain malformations
• severe sensory deficits

• Maximum Eligible Age: 5 Months
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris

Calambrone, Pisa, Italy

Countries

Italy

References

Franchi De' Cavalieri M, Filogna S, Martini G, Beani E, Maselli M, Cianchetti M, Dubbini N, Cioni G, Sgandurra G; CareToy-R Consortium. Wearable accelerometers for measuring and monitoring the motor behaviour of infants with brain damage during CareToy-Revised training. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2023 May 6;20(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s12984-023-01182-z.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 37149595 (View on PubMed)

Menici V, Antonelli C, Beani E, Mattiola A, Giampietri M, Martini G, Rizzi R, Cecchi A, Cioni ML, Cioni G, Sgandurra G; Caretoy-R Consortium. Feasibility of Early Intervention Through Home-Based and Parent-Delivered Infant Massage in Infants at High Risk for Cerebral Palsy. Front Pediatr. 2021 Jul 19;9:673956. doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.673956. eCollection 2021.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 34350144 (View on PubMed)

Sgandurra G, Beani E, Giampietri M, Rizzi R, Cioni G; CareToy-R Consortium. Early intervention at home in infants with congenital brain lesion with CareToy revised: a RCT protocol. BMC Pediatr. 2018 Sep 5;18(1):295. doi: 10.1186/s12887-018-1264-y.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 30185165 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

RF-2013-02358095

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id