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Volumetric and anatomical MRI for hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy: relationship to hypothermia therapy and neurosensory impairments

Journal of Perinatology volume 29, pages 143–149 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To relate volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings to hypothermia therapy and neurosensory impairments.

Study Design:

Newborns ⩾36 weeks’ gestation with hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy who participated in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development hypothermia randomized trial at our center were eligible. We determined the relationship between hypothermia treatment and usual care (control) to absolute and relative cerebral tissue volumes. Furthermore, we correlated brain volumes with death or neurosensory impairments at 18 to 22 months.

Result:

Both treatment groups were comparable before randomization. Total brain tissue volumes did not differ in relation to treatment assignment. However, relative volumes of subcortical white matter were significantly larger in hypothermia-treated than control infants. Furthermore, relative total brain volumes correlated significantly with death or neurosensory impairments. Relative volumes of the cortical gray and subcortical white matter also correlated significantly with Bayley Scales psychomotor development index.

Conclusion:

Selected volumetric MRI findings correlated with hypothermia therapy and neurosensory impairments. Larger studies using MRI brain volumes as a secondary outcome measure are needed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grant 5K23NS048152 to Nehal Parikh. We thank the NICHD Neonatal Research Network for access to hypothermia study data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    N A Parikh, R E Lasky, C N Garza & J E Tyson

  2. Center for Clinical Research and Evidence-Based Medicine, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    R E Lasky & J E Tyson

  3. Department of Neuroradiology, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    E Bonfante-Mejia

  4. Department of Neuroradiology, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    E Bonfante-Mejia

  5. Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    S Shankaran

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  1. N A Parikh
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  2. R E Lasky
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  3. C N Garza
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  4. E Bonfante-Mejia
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  5. S Shankaran
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  6. J E Tyson
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Correspondence to N A Parikh.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Parikh, N., Lasky, R., Garza, C. et al. Volumetric and anatomical MRI for hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy: relationship to hypothermia therapy and neurosensory impairments. J Perinatol 29, 143–149 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.184

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.184

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