Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a type of brain injury that affects infants. The condition includes death of small areas of brain tissue around fluid-filled areas called ventricles.
PVL is caused by changes in the blood flow in the area around the ventricles of the brain. This area is fragile and prone to injury, especially before 32 weeks of gestation. Premature babies have high risk for getting PVL.


PVL can be manifested with motor disorders (paralyses and difficult movements such as sitting, crawling, walking, and moving the arms), delayed mental development, coordination problems, and vision and hearing impairments. Children with PVL have higher levels of nystagmus, strabismus, optic nerve hypoplasia and refractive error. PVL may be accompanied by a hemorrhage or bleeding in the periventricular-intraventricular area (the area around and inside the ventricles), and can lead to cerebral palsy.


This condition can be diagnosed with ultrasound scan and MRI imaging.


There is no treatment for PVL because necrotized brain tissue can’t be regenerated. Physiotherapy is used to enable the remaining brain reserves that are not damaged but need to be awakened. Condition of the other systems (lungs, heart, intestines, kidneys…) should be regularly monitored.