title: Effects of magnesium sulphate on amplitude-integrated continuous EEG in asphyxiated term neonates.
abstract: In this study it is hypothesized that magnesium sulphate in asphyxiated full-term neonates could lead to a gradual improvement in background pattern of the amplitude integrated EEG (aEEG), an early marker of hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled pilot study of 22 asphyxiated full-term neonates 8 received magnesium sulphate, reaching serum Mg2+ levels of 2.5 mmol/L. Magnesium sulphate had no immediate effect on aEEG-patterns. At 12 h of age, aEEG was more depressed compared with aEEG at 3 h in 6 of the 8 magnesium-treated neonates, and in 3 of the 14 placebo-treated neonates (Mg2+ vs placebo: p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney). No further significant changes in aEEG were seen between 12 and 24 h. Outcome was unfavourable in 4 of the 8 magnesium-treated neonates, and in 8 of the 14 placebo-treated neonates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnesium sulphate did not have a positive effect on aEEG patterns in this small group of asphyxiated term neonates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. F.Groenendaal@wkz.azu.nl
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Groenendaal
authors.forename: C M A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rademaker
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Toet
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: de Vries
mesh_terms: D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D008278:Magnesium Sulfate