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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Application of an Amplitude-integrated EEG Monitor (Cerebral Function Monitor) to Neonates
Published on: September 6, 2017
Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography in preterm infants with cystic periventricular leukomalacia
Toru Kato1, Akihisa Okumura, Fumio Hayakawa
1Department of Pediatrics, Okazaki City Hospital, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan. kato-jes@umin.ac.jp
Insights
Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) shows higher upper-margin amplitude in preterm infants with cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL). This finding aids in early detection of cPVL in neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Neurophysiology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL) is a significant cause of neurological impairment in preterm infants.
- Early detection of cPVL is crucial for timely intervention and improved neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) is a valuable bedside tool for monitoring brain function in neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) characteristics in preterm infants diagnosed with cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL).
- To identify specific aEEG patterns associated with cPVL in the early neonatal period.
- To compare aEEG findings between preterm infants with cPVL and matched controls.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of five preterm infants (27-30 weeks gestational age) with cPVL and 15 matched controls.
- Two-channel aEEG (C3-O1, C4-O2) recorded digitally from conventional electroencephalograms at three time points: days 0-5, 6-13, and 21-34.
- Visual and quantitative analyses of averaged two-channel aEEG values, focusing on upper-margin amplitude.
Main Results:
- Infants with cPVL exhibited a significantly higher maximal upper-margin amplitude in the second visual analysis record (median 47.5 μV vs. 33.8 μV in controls).
- A significantly higher mean upper-margin amplitude was observed in cPVL infants during the second quantitative analysis (median 18.8 μV vs. 16.3 μV in controls).
- These differences were most pronounced between 6-13 days after birth.
Conclusions:
- The upper-margin amplitude of aEEG is significantly elevated in preterm infants with cPVL compared to controls.
- This elevated aEEG upper-margin amplitude is detectable in the early neonatal period, specifically between 6-13 days post-birth.
- aEEG findings, particularly the upper-margin amplitude, may serve as an early biomarker for cPVL in high-risk preterm infants.
Aim:
This study aimed to assess amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) findings in preterm infants with cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL) in the early neonatal period.
Methods:
We analyzed five infants with cPVL, whose gestational age was between 27 and 30 weeks, and 15 matched control infants. Two-channel (C3-O1 and C4-O2) aEEG was obtained by digital conversion from a conventional electroencephalogram, which was recorded at days 0-5, 6-13, and 21-34 in each infant. We evaluated the averaged two-channel values of several measurements using visual and quantitative analyses.
Results:
Infants with cPVL had a significant higher maximal upper-margin amplitude value, with a median of 47.5 μV (range of 42.5-60) compared with the control infants (median, 33.8; range, 23.8-50) in the second visual-analysis record. Infants with cPVL also had a significantly higher mean upper-margin amplitude value, with a median of 18.8 μV (range, 17.7-23.2) compared with the control infants (median, 16.3; range, 10.3-19.0) in the second quantitative-analysis record.
Conclusions:
We demonstrated that the upper-margin amplitude of aEEG in infants with cPVL was significantly higher than that in the control infants at 6-13 days after birth.
