title: [Amplitude integrated electroencephalography characteristics of normal preterm newborns: a multicenter clinical study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the characteristics of amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in preterm infants and changes of maturation with gestational age.
  
  
  METHODS
  aEEG monitoring was done within 3 days of age with domestically produced digital aEEG set (CFM3000). Duration of each recording was at least 4 hours. The continuity, sleep-wake cycle, voltage and bandwidth of all aEEG tracing were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percent of continuity background increased from 30% of 28 weeks to 85.7% of 36 weeks (χ(2) = 28.2, P = 0.026); the percent of mature sleep-wake cycle increased from 10% of 28 weeks to 100% of 36 weeks (χ(2) = 192.4, P < 0.01). Low bound voltage increased with gestational age, from (6.8 ± 1.7) µV (28 w) to 9.7 - 10.1 µV (35 - 36 w) (F = 11.4, P < 0.01). Bandwidth of the narrow band decreases gradually with gestational age, from 1.45 cm (28 w) to (0.86 ± 0.24) cm (36 w) (F = 8.731, P < 0.01). The correlation coefficient for continuity, sleep-wake cycle, low bound voltage and bandwidth of narrow band, and total scores were 0.32, 0.81, 0.38, 0.55 and 0.78 respectively (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The older the gestational age of infants at birth, the more mature the aEEG pattern, manifested as increased continuity and sleep-wake cycle, the higher low bound voltage and more narrowed bandwidth with increased gestational age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Pediatric Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China.
authors.forename: Yi-yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Guo-qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Xiao-mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: De-yi
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Deng-li
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xian-zhi
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ji-mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ming-zhu
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Zhi-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-hao
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male