Chinese Medical E-ournals Database

Chinese Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics(Electronic Edition) ›› 2026, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (01): 83 -88. doi: 10.3877/cma.j.issn.1673-5250.2026.01.012

Review

Research progress on pathogenesis and treatment of white matter injury in premature infants

Wenjia Du1, Jinhui Li1,2,()   

  1. 1Department of Pediatrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
    2Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital (Tianfu), Sichuan University/Sichuan Provincial Children′s Hospital (Sichuan Provincial Children′s Medical Center), Meishan 620010, Sichuan Province, China
  • Received:2025-11-13 Revised:2026-01-13 Published:2026-02-01
  • Corresponding author: Jinhui Li
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFC2706402)

White matter injury (WMI) is a major cause of severe neurological complications in preterm infants, especially extremely preterm infants. With advances in neonatal care, the predominant pathological pattern of preterm WMI has shifted from focal necrotic lesions to diffuse injury. The core pathological features of preterm WMI include the significant vulnerability of late oligodendrocyte progenitor (preOL), dysmyelination, axonal injury, and abnormal neural network connectivity, which in turn affect nervous system development and function. This review summarizes the definition, high-risk population, clinical imaging manifestations, and pathological features of preterm WMI, and further discusses recent progress in its pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies, with the aim of providing a reference for understanding its pathophysiological mechanisms and exploring effective interventions.

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