| Sumario: | Aims: To define patterns of brain injury and associated neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with severe neonatal anaemia.Methods: We studied 20 infants with severe anaemia at birth (haemoglobin<7g/dL). Clinical details were analysed for causes of anaemia and co-morbidities. All had early brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, which were reviewed for injury pattern. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at a median age of 24months.Results: The aetiology of the anaemia was feto-maternal haemorrhage in 17 and antepartum haemorrhage in 3 infants. The predominant site of injury was the white matter, which was affected in all infants, with differing grades of severity and with cystic evolution in 45%. Only one infant showed an injury pattern typical of an acute severe hypoxic-ischaemic insult. Outcomes correlated closely to the severity of MRI findings. Cerebral palsy was seen only with the most severe neuroimaging patterns (n=6). Global developmental delay, learning or behavioural problems and seizures were common with moderate injury. Visual impairment occurred, particularly with posterior injury. Microcephaly developed in 45%.Interpretation: Severe neonatal anaemia at birth was associated with a white matter predominant pattern of injury, the severity of which was related to neurodevelopmental outcomes. Early MRI and long-term follow-up are advisable following severe neonatal anaemia.
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