Impact of maternal hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on brain volumes at term-equivalent age in preterm infants: A voxel-based morphometry study

Objectives: Infants born to mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) reportedly have negative behavioral and neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, the effects of maternal HDP on infant brain growth have not been fully evaluated. We aimed to evaluate brain volumes and brain injury in preterm infants born to mothers with HDP using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at term-equivalent age. Study design: In this cohort study, MR imaging was performed for 94 preterm infants born before 34 weeks of gestation at Nagoya University Hospital between 2010 and 2018. Twenty infants were born to mothers with HDP and 74 to mothers without HDP. Main outcome measures: Total brain volumes and regional volumetric alterations were assessed by voxel-based morphometry, and brain injury was evaluated using the Kidokoro global brain abnormality score. Developmental quotient was assessed at a corrected age of 1.5 years in 59 infants (HDP, n = 11; non-HDP, n = 48). Results: No significant differences were observed in the gray and white matter volumes of the two groups (HDP: 175 ± 24 mL, 137 ± 13 mL, respectively; non-HDP: 172 ± 24 mL, 142 ± 13 mL, respectively). Additionally, no regional volumetric alterations were observed between the two groups after covariate adjustment (gestational age and infant sex). The total Kidokoro score and developmental quotient were similar in both groups. Conclusions: No significant differences in the global and regional brain volumes were observed. Further research is needed to confirm our findings at different time points of MR imaging and in different populations.