OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors, clinical features, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of encephalopathy in high-risk late preterm infants.

METHODSHead MRI scan was performed for late preterm infants with high-risk factors for brain injury who were hospitalized between January 2009 and December 2014. The risk factors, clinical features, and head MRI features of encephalopathy in late preterm infants were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 1 007 late preterm infants underwent MRI scan, among whom 313 (31.1%) had imaging features in accordance with the features of encephalopathy of prematurity. Of all infants, 76.7% had white matter damage. There was no association between the development of encephalopathy and gestational age in late preterm infants, but the detection rate of encephalopathy gradually increased with the increasing birth weight (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that a history of resuscitation was an independent risk factor for encephalopathy of prematurity (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEncephalopathy of prematurity is commonly seen in high-risk late preterm infants, especially white matter damage. A history of resuscitation is an independent risk factor for encephalopathy in late preterm infants.