Abstract
Purpose The aim of the article is to assess the predictive value of amplitude-integrated
electroencephalogram (aEEG) for cerebral white matter damage (WMD) in preterm infants.
Patients and Methods Preterms ≤ 32 weeks' gestational age (GA) born between March 2012 and December 2012
were enrolled. The aEEG patterns within 72 hours were classified and recorded to predict
their neurodevelopmental prognosis and the predictive results were used to compare
with the results by cerebral ultrasound examination. Neurobehavioral disorder (neonatal
behavioral neurological assessment score < 35, dyskinesia or dysgnosia) or death was
thought as poor neurodevelopmental prognosis. Psychomotor development index (PDI)
or mental development index (MDI) ≤ 79 was regarded as dyskinesia or dysgnosia, respectively.
Results Of the 63 preterms, 3.2% were born < 27 weeks' gestation and 96.8% at 27 to 32 weeks'
gestation. The median GA was 29.3 weeks and the median birth weight was 1,030 g. On
the basis of the aEEG results, normal, mildly abnormal, and severely abnormal cases
were 10, 24, and 29; whereas determined by cerebral ultrasound, normal, mild, and
severe cases were 17, 20, and 26, respectively. The aEEG degree showed significantly
positive correlations with both WMD and poor neurodevelopmental prognosis (p < 0.01).
Conclusion Abnormal aEEG of preterm infants within 72 hours after birth may imply WMD occurrence
and poor neurodevelopmental prognosis.
Keywords
white matter damage - preterm infants - amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram
