Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Neonates with Mild Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Treated with Therapeutic Hypothermia

Abstract

Objective To review developmental outcomes of neonates with mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH).

Study Design Neonates ≥35 weeks' gestation with mild HIE/TH (TH group, n = 30) were matched with healthy term-born infants (control group, n = 30) and reviewed for the presence and severity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected neurological injury. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID).

Results MRI injury was present in 13/30 (43.3%) neonates (11 mild, 1 moderate, and 1 severe injuries) in the TH group. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) corrected age at BSID III was 29.3 (3.9) months in the controls compared with 14.7 (3.9) months in the TH group (p < 0.01). The mean (SD) cognitive, language, and motor composite scores in neonates in the TH group (n = 16, 53.3%) and control groups (n = 30, 100%) were 99.4 (17.1) versus 93.0 (12.3), (p = 0.15), 89.5 (15.5) versus 100.2 (18.4), (p = 0.054), and 93.1 (15.4) versus 100.8 (16.3) (p = 0.13), respectively.

Conclusion Developmental outcomes of neonates with mild HIE/TH were similar to healthy, term-born neonates.

Keywords

neurodevelopmental outcomes - magnetic resonance imaging - mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy - therapeutic hypothermia

Authors' Contributions

R.R. wrote the first and final draft of the article. He and all the contributing authors are accountable for and take full responsibility for all aspects of the article. All contributing authors have reviewed and approved the article for submission.

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