Follow-up GEEF-study: Behavioral development, school performance, neurocognitive functioning and brain development of very premature (<32 weeks) and/or very low birth weight (<1500 grams) children at school-age, with or without glutamine suppletion after birth

Follow-up study of very premature (<32 weeks of gestation) and/or very low
birth weight (VLBW, < 1500 grams) infants who participated in the Glutamine
Enriched Enteral Feeding-study (GEEF, van den Berg et al., 2004), to determine
the effects of glutamine supplementation on later developmental outcomes.

The main objective of the study is to provide insight in the developmental
problems of very premature and/or VLBW children compared to their term born
peers, and to investigate the possible beneficial longitudinal effects of the
GEEF intervention on these problems. This will be done by gathering information
concerning the neurocognitive performance, behavioural/emotional development,
performance at school and brain development (by conducting brain imaging) of
very premature and/or VLBW children from the GEEF-intervention study (both
glutamine and placebo condition) and term born controls.

Observational study

Each participant will be asked to visit the VU University Medical Center twice.
During the first visit of approximately 3 hours including breaks, the
neurocognitive assessment (childen) and the questionnaires (parents) will be
administrated. During the second visit of approximately 1 hour, brain scanning
will be conducted.
For participants, the burden of the neurocognitive assessment is minimal.
Experiences from earlier studies with children in this age range have taught us
that the proposed length of assessment is feasible. During brain scanning,
discomfort can be expected from loud noise and claustrophobia. This discomfort
will be minimized by providing ear plugs and close company of a familiar person
as much as possible during the procedure. Risks associated with participation
are negligible.