Text Box: THE PRESENT CONDITION OF VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT PRETERM INFANTS Chang LW, Chen Y Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical Collage, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China Objective: To explore the risk factors for death and neurodevelopmental handicaps in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants. Methods: From June 1, 1995 through June 1, 2000, a total of 133 preterm infants with birth weights ranging from 650 g to 1500 g, gestational age ranging from 24 weeks to 34 weeks were studied. The survivors were followed up. At 24 months’ corrected age, each child was evaluated with Bayley Scales of Infants Development (BSID). Results: Of 133 children admitted to our study protocols, 28 (21%) died in the hospital; 35 (26%) failed to treatment for parents’ reasons and died; 11 cases lost follow-up, neurodevelopmental testing data with BSID was obtained for 59 (44%) of survivors. In infants who died and infants who survived , the mean gestational age was, respectively, 29.66±0.30 and 31.23±0.03 (t=3.98, P<0.01＝, and the mean birth weight was 1.21±0.03 and 1.34±0.19 (t=3.9, P<0.01＝. Logistic regression analysis was performed by using birth weight, gestational age, gender, Apgar score, infection, intracranical hemorrege, respiratory distress syndrom, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), congenital lung dysplasia and failing to treatment for parents’ reasons to predict the risk factors for death. The result demonstrated that the failing to treatment for parents’ reason, severe intracranical hemorrhage and BPD were important predictors of death. Of 59 children tested with BSID, Mental Development Index (MDI) or Psychomotor Development Intex (PDI) was 120~130 in 7 cases, 80~119 in 44 cases, 70~79 in 5 cases, and <69 in 3 cases. Of 8 subjects whose MDI or PDI was ≤ 70, ventriculomegaly or periventricular leukomalacia was demonstrated. Conclusion: These data suggest that death rate in VLBW preterm infants is high. The severe intracranical hemorrhage and the failing to treatment for parents’ reasons are the important factors. Intracranical hemorrhage is also the leading cause of neurodevelopmental handicaps in preterm infants. 2466