title: Evolution of the Thompson score during the first 6 h in infants with perinatal asphyxia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the evolution of the Thompson score, which provides composite grading of encephalopathy signs, during the first 6 h of birth in neonates with perinatal asphyxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty term infants with perinatal asphyxia were prospectively studied from the University Hospital of Kinshasa during a 12-month period. The Thompson score was performed after 1 h, then hourly until 6 h of birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen infants had a Thompson score ≥7 and six had a score <7 after 1 h of birth. The Thompson score remained higher than 7 after 3 h in nine infants (64.3%) and in four infants (25.6%) after 6 h. After 3 h of birth, four infants moved from a score ≥7 to a score below 7. After 6 h, five infants had a score below 7. Seventy per cent of patients had a Thompson score higher than 7 after 1 h, 45% after 3 h and 20% after 6 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Thompson score changes over the time during the first 6 h of birth, and this should be taken into account when it is being used as an entry criterion for cooling.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo.
authors.forename: Thérèse
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Biselele
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Naulaers
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tady
mesh_terms: D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Congo; Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy; Neonates; Perinatal asphyxia; Thompson score