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Can magnetic resonance spectroscopy predict neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight preterm infants?

Journal of Perinatology volume 28, pages 611–618 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To determine if metabolite ratios at near-term age predict outcome in very low birth weight preterm infants at 18 to 24 months adjusted age.

Study Design:

Thirty-six infants (birth weight ⩽1510 g, gestational age ⩽32 weeks) were scanned at a postmenstrual age (PMA) of 35 to 43 weeks from July 2001 to September 2003. Multivoxel proton spectroscopic data were acquired and metabolite ratios were calculated in regions of the thalamus and basal ganglia. Bayley Scales of Infant Development were assessed between 18 and 24 months corrected age.

Result:

Metabolic ratios showed no significant correlation with developmental outcome. A correlation was seen between N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/choline (Ch) and PMA in thalamus and basal ganglia.

Conclusion:

Metabolite ratios from near-term proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) were not predictive of Bayley scores at 18 to 24 months adjusted age. There was a positive correlation between NAA/Ch and PMA, which supports previous work by others for the importance of developmental changes in the MRS with age.

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Acknowledgements

EMA was an American Pediatric Society/Society for Pediatric Research Program Awardee and received NIH grant HD007446. EMA also received travel award and presented this work in Poster Session at the 2006 Pediatric Academic Society Meeting. We gratefully acknowledge support from NIH Grant RR 09784 and thank Roger B Baldwin for assistance with data analysis.

Author information

Author notes

  1. E M Augustine

    Present address: 4Current address: Pediatric Resident at Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, Stanford, CA, USA.,

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA

    E M Augustine

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    E M Augustine, T L Sutcliffe, M Mirmiran & R L Ariagno

  3. Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    D M Spielman, P D Barnes, J D Dermon, D B Clayton & R L Ariagno

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  1. E M Augustine
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Correspondence to R L Ariagno.

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Augustine, E., Spielman, D., Barnes, P. et al. Can magnetic resonance spectroscopy predict neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight preterm infants?. J Perinatol 28, 611–618 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.66

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