Abstract Objective This paper aims to study the effects of the brain development and brain injury on early brain responses and to explore the relationship between early brain responses and neurodevelopment in preterm infants. Methods The intensity of brain responses after sound stimulation was evaluated by detecting cerebral oxygenation using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in preterm infants. The neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) was performed in preterm infants on the 40th week of their corrected gestational age (GA). The infants had follow-up visits for the neurodevelopment within one year of their lives. Results All subjects had responses to sound stimulation in different degrees. The maximum response value after stimulation in infants with GA of more than 34 weeks' was 4.1%±1.4%. It was not different from that of term infants ( 4.2%± 1.4%). There was a significant difference in maximum response value between the infants with GA of less than 34 weeks and the term infants ( 3.1%± 1.4% vs 4.2%± 1.4%; P< 0.05). The maximum response value of the preterm infants with brain injury ( 2.6%± 1.8%) was lower than those without ( 4.4%± 1.3%) (P< 0.05). The preterm infants who had normal NBNA results had higher maximum response values than those who did not have on the 40th week of their corrected GA ( 3.9%± 1.4% vs 2.1%±1.6%; P< 0.05). The follow-up visits found a significant difference between the normal and abnormal neurodevelopment infants for the early brain response (P< 0.05). Conclusions Preterm infants have brain responses to sound stimulation. The intensity of brain response may be correlated with GA. The perinatal brain injury may affect the brain response. Early response may be related to subsequent neurodevelopment in preterm infants.
HOU Xin-Lin,ZHOU Cong-Le,HUANG Lan et al. Relationship between early brain responses and neurodevelopment in preterm infants[J]. 中国当代儿科杂志, 2004, 6(6): 481-484.
HOU Xin-Lin,ZHOU Cong-Le,HUANG Lan et al. Relationship between early brain responses and neurodevelopment in preterm infants[J]. CJCP, 2004, 6(6): 481-484.
