The purpose of this study was to determine whether serum GFAP levels measured within the first 3 days of life differ between premature neonates (<34 weeks) (a) with and without NBI, (b) with IVH and those with PVL, and (c) with different grades of NBI as well as (d) to evaluate the predictive value of serum GFAP during the first 3 days of life to early identify high-risk premature neonates that will either develop NBI or will be complicated with a severe adverse neonatal outcome such as death or seizures/hypertonia. Here, GFAP is linked to periventricular leukomalacia.