White matter damage in the preterm neonate

The most common form of brain injury in preterm infants is periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). PVL is also the most common cause of cerebral palsy in the smallest and most vulnerable preterm infant. The core theme in its pathogenesis is the effect of hypoxia, ischaemia, and inflammation on the vulnerable white matter of the developing brain. Over the last decade, with improved laboratory and imaging techniques, the complex relationships between the known associated factors involved in causation of PVL is becoming increasingly known. A better understanding of its pathogenesis provides the basis for future protective strategies against PVL.