Patterns of brain injury in term neonatal encephalopathy

Objectives To determine whether the pattern of brain injury in term neonatal encephalopathy is associated with distinct prenatal find perinatal factors and to determine whether the pattern of injury is associated with 30-month neurodevelopmental Outcome. Study design A total of 173 term newborns with neonatal encephalopathy from 2 centers underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at it median of 6 days of age (range, 1-24 days). Patterns of injury on MRI were defined on the basis of the predominant site of injury: watershed predominant, basal ganglia/thalamus predominant, and normal. Results The watershed pattern of in jury was seen in 78 newborns(45%), the basal ganglia/thalamus pattern was seen in 44 newborns (25%), and normal MRI studies were seen in 51 newborns (30%). Antenatal conditions such as maternal substance use, gestational diabetes, premature rupture of membranes, pre-eclampsia, and intra-uterine growth restriction did not differ across patterns. The basal ganglia/thalamus pattern was associated with more severe neonatal signs, including more intensive resuscitation fit birth (P =.001), more severe encephalopathy (P =.0001), and more severe seizures (P =.0001). The basal ganglia/thalamus pattern was associated with the most impaired motor find cognitive outcome fit 30 months. Conclusion The patterns of brain injury in term neonatal encephalopathy are associated with different clinical presentations and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Measured prenatal risk factors did not predict the pattern of brain in jury.