Quantitative electroencephalographic patterns in normal preterm infants over the first week after birth.
BACKGROUND
Currently available tools to assist clinicians with prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants are inadequate. Modified cotside electroencephalography (EEG) has the ability to produce quantitative electrophysiologic measures. These measures may be useful in future prediction of outcome.


OBJECTIVE
To determine patterns of change in quantitative EEG measures in preterm infants during their first week after birth.


METHODS
Observational.


METHODS
Preterm infants born at less than 32 weeks completed gestation surviving to discharge with unremarkable serial ultrasound scans.


METHODS
Changes in continuity, amplitude and spectral edge frequency measures of EEGs obtained over the first week after birth.


RESULTS
Results of EEGs performed using a novel EEG device on 63 infants are reported here. Their median (range) gestation was 29 (24-31) weeks and birthweight was 1,235 (540-1,980) g. Quantitative measures of EEG continuity increased over the first week after birth from 72 (25-99)% to 92 (54-100)% at the 25 microV threshold, and from 39 (10-87)% to 64 (34-75)% at the 50 microV threshold, both p<0.0001. There was a related 32% increase in median amplitude from 5.8 (2.6-10.6) microV on day 1 to 7.6 (4.3-9.4) microV on day 4, p=0.005. There was a trend for average spectral edge frequency to fall from 10.7 (9.3-12.9) Hz on day 1 to 9.9 (8.1-12.3) Hz on day 3, p=0.06. Each gestational tertile showed similar patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
There are consistent changes in quantitative neurophysiologic measures over the first week after birth, and particularly measures of continuity over the first 4 days, in normal preterm infants.
West
Claire R
CR
Liggins Institute, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
Harding
Jane E
JE
Williams
Christopher E
CE
Gunning
Mark I
MI
Battin
Malcolm R
MR
D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values