Intra- and periventricular haemorrhage (IVH/PVH) and, under certain conditions, the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) seem to be typical sequelae of perinatal asphyxia in preterm born infants. Therefore, an association of IVH/PVH and RDS can be expected. We have retrospectively analyzed the data of 118 premature infants born between 1982 and 1986, weighing between 750 and 1499 g. 11 of these had experienced a severe IVH/PVH and a severe RDS at the same time, whereas 75 infants did not develop either of those. (2 of the 118 showed a severe IVH/PVH without evidence of severe RDS whereas 29 developed severe RDS without signs of serious IVH/PVH. 1 could not be evaluated due to missing data). This association of severe intracerebral haemorrhage and severe respiratory distress syndrome was statistically significant (p less than 0.005). The number of severe IVH/PVH has decreased during 1984-1986 in comparison to 1982/83 (4/76 vs. 9/42; p less than 0.05); the incidence of severe RDS has slightly declined. Comparing the perinatal conditions we found that the infants of the years 1984-1986 were more rarely delivered after an interval exceeding 24 h after premature rupture of the membranes (p less than 0.05), were more often delivered by caesarean section (p less than 0.005), and were nearly always primarily cared for by an experienced paediatrician (p less than 0.01). There were no significant differences between these two groups as far as dexamethasone-prophylaxis, mean birth weight, percentage of small-for-gestational-age infants and mean Apgar scores were concerned.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)