title: Brain wave maturation and neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely low gestational age neonates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infants born at extremely low gestational ages are at high risk for developmental impairments. Early predictors of these impairments are useful for both clinicians and researchers. Our objective was to assess the correlation between the rate of brain wave maturation as measured by serial amplitude-integrated electroencephalograms (aEEGs) and scores on standardized measures of infant development in extremely low gestational age neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective observational study of 65 infants born before 28 weeks' gestational age who were assessed with an aEEG monthly between 28 and 36 weeks' postmenstrual age and with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III at 18 to 22 months adjusted age. We analyzed the correlation between the rate of brain wave maturation on aEEG and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III Cognitive and Motor Scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean rate of brain wave maturation was 0.83 (±0.36) points per week. Brain wave maturation was not correlated with either the Cognitive or Motor Scale (adjusted regression coefficients for Cognitive and Motor Scales were 1.61 (s.e.: 4.20; P=0.70) and 2.39 (s.e.: 4.62; P=0.61), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among extremely preterm infants, the rate of maturational changes in brain wave characteristics between 28 and 36 weeks' postmenstrual age is not predictive of developmental abilities at 18 to 22 months adjusted age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Helderman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: O'Shea
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies