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The Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Model of Perinatal Ischemia
Published on: November 19, 2008
Neonatal encephalopathy: an inadequate term for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
1Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Joseph.volpe@childrens.harvard.edu
Annals of Neurology
|August 29, 2012
Summary
Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is often called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) when caused by lack of oxygen. Imaging and clinical findings strongly support using the specific term HIE for these infants.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Neonatal Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is a clinical syndrome in newborns.
- The term NE is often used non-specifically for infants with suspected hypoxic-ischemic injury.
- There is a need for precise terminology in diagnosing neonatal brain injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for the specific designation of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
- To highlight the correlation between clinical presentation, imaging findings, and neuropathology in neonatal brain injury.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical characteristics of infants with presumed perinatal hypoxia-ischemia.
- Analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in term infants.
- Correlation of imaging findings with established neuropathological data and animal models.
Main Results:
- MRI studies reveal lesion topographies in term infants consistent with hypoxia-ischemia.
- These imaging patterns align with human neuropathology and primate models of hypoxic-ischemic injury.
- Clinical features combined with specific imaging findings support a diagnosis of HIE.
Conclusions:
- The term neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is warranted for infants with clinical and imaging evidence of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult.
- Specific terminology improves diagnostic accuracy and communication in neonatal neurology.
- Standardizing the diagnosis of HIE based on clinical and imaging data is crucial.
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