Prognostic value of the apparent diffusion coefficient in newborns with hypoxic-Ischaemic encephalopathy treated with therapeutic hypothermia.

Heursen EM, Zuazo Ojeda A, Benavente Fernández I, Jimenez Gómez G, Campuzano Fernández-Colima R, Paz-Expósito J, Lubián López SP. Prognostic Value of the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Newborns with Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy Treated with Therapeutic Hypothermia. Neonatology. 2017 Mar 29;112(1):67-72.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantification has been proven to be of prognostic value in term newborns with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) who were treated under normothermia.

OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate the prognostic value of ADC in standardized brain regions in neonates with HIE who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH).

METHODS:

This prospective cohort study included 54 term newborns who were admitted with HIE and treated with TH. All magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed between days 4 and 6 of life, and ADC values were measured in 13 standardized regions of the brain. At 2 years of age we explored whether ADC values were related to composite outcomes (death or survival with abnormal neurodevelopment).

RESULTS:

The severity of HIE is inversely related to ADC values in different brain regions. We found that lower ADC values in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), the thalami, the semioval centre, and frontal and parietal white matter were related to adverse outcomes. ADC values in the PLIC and thalami are good predictors of adverse outcomes (AUC 0.86 and 0.76).

CONCLUSIONS:

Low ADC values in the PLIC, thalamus, semioval centre, and frontal and parietal white matter in full-term infants with HIE treated with TH were associated with a poor outcome.

________________________________________________________________________

The researchers undertook this study to assess the prognostic value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in standardized brain regions in neonates with hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). They observed that low ADC values in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), thalamus, semioval centre, and frontal and parietal white matter in full–term infants with HIE treated with TH were associated with a poor outcome.

Methods

This prospective study consisted of 54 term newborns who were admitted with HIE and treated with TH.

All magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed between days 4 and 6 of life.

ADC values were calculated in 13 standardized regions of the brain.

At 2 years of age the researchers explored whether ADC values were related to composite outcomes (death or survival with abnormal neurodevelopment).

Results

The severity of HIE is inversely related to ADC values in different brain regions.

They discovered that lower ADC values in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), the thalami, the semioval centre, and frontal and parietal white matter were related to adverse outcomes.

ADC values in the PLIC and thalami are good predictors of adverse outcomes (AUC 0.86 and 0.76).

Courtesy of:  https://www.mdlinx.com/neurology/medical-news-article/2017/04/07/hypoxic-ischaemic-encephalopathyapparent-diffusion-coefficientprognosistherapeutic-hypothermia/7123186/?category=latest&page_id=2