Pathogenetic Aspects of Intraventricular Hemorrhages in Extremely Premature Infants

INTRODUCTION: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is one of the most common types of the brain damage in newborns with extremely low and very low body mass. The main source of IVH in the extremely premature infants is the germinal matrix. This is a subependymal structure of the brain consisting of poorly differentiated, randomly arranged cells, well vascularized with vessels with a poor connective-tissue support. The germinal matrix a key supplier of neurons and glial cells of the brain is unique among the brain regions for its specific rate of angiogenesis and selective vulnerability to hemorrhages during its development. Etiology and pathogenesis of IVH in premature infants are highly multifactorial and have not been fully studied. In this review, the data on the key points of the pathogenesis of IVH in premature infants are generalized. CONCLUSION: IVH is a potentially destructive disease, in the study of which a certain progress has been achieved in elucidating the causes and mechanisms of brain damage. In-depth understanding of the key points of the pathogenesis of intraventricular hemorrhage will permit to choose the optimal management tactics and develop new approaches to prevention and treatment of this pathology.