Figure 5. Potential sequences of events leading to major brain sequelae observed with periventricular leukomalacia.
Potential events are hypomyelination, and impaired cortical and thalamic development (eg, seen on advanced MRI analysis by decreased volume). For each sequence, the initiating primary injury is shown, and the subsequent secondary effects are postulated to occur because of maturational/trophic disturbances, as described in the text. Pre-OL=premyelinating oligodendrocyte. SPN=subplate neuron.