Problems from PVL?
• Frequently Asked Questions • References Why Is PVL Important? PVL is one of the most important causes of cerebral palsy and other long-term handicaps. It is primarily seen in premature infants with the most prematurely born infants being the most likely to have this problem. It can only be identified by ultrasound, MRI scan or CT scan of the brain. PVL is caused by insufficient blood flow to parts of an infants brain before birth, at delivery, or after birth. What Is the Periventricular Area? Within the center of our brains are four small fluid-filled areas called the cerebral ventricles. The area just outside the ventricles is called the periventricular area of the brain. “Peri” means next to or around, so periventricular means next to or around the ventricles. This area contains important nerve fibers that carry messages from the brain to the muscles of the body. What Is PVL? The periventricular tissue receives its blood supply from very small arteries in the brain. Changes in bloo
