Abstract #4398

A Combined Brain Proton MR Spectroscopy and Amplitude- Integrated Electroencephalography Study in Term Newborns with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Caterina Tonon¹, Claudia Testa¹, David Neil Manners¹, Emil Malucelli¹, Gina Ancora², Giovanni Tani³, Paolo Ambrosetto³, Bruno Barbiroli¹, Raffaele Lodi¹

¹MR Spectroscopy Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Aging and Nephrology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, Italy; ²Institute of Neonatology, Department of Woman, Child and Adolescent Health,, Policlinico SOrsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy; ³Paediatric Radiology Unit, Department of Woman, Child and Adolescent Health, Policlinico SOrsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy

Perinatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) remains a frequent cause of neurological sequelae and death. The accurate assessment of HIE is crucial for determining the prognosis.The aim of the study was to relate the brain metabolic changes detected by 1H-MRS to the amplitude integrated- electroencephalogram (a-EEG) time course findings in newborns at term and to evaluate their correlation with outcome. Both 1H-MRS and a-EEG findings showed a good correlation with the severity and the outcome of cerebral HI injury. These data, obtained from 1H-MRS and a-EEG in non-treated infants, represent reference data for future investigations to select candidates for cool cap therapy.