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Updated: Jul 12, 2025
Early Pathological and Magnetic Resonance Detection of Cerebral Injury Using a Rat Model of Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Published on: October 28, 2022
Long-term motor development after hypothermia-treated hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy
Mimmi Eriksson Westblad1, Kristina Löwing2, Katarina Robertsson Grossmann3
1Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Paediatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska University Hospital, Women's Health and Allied Health Professionals Theme, Medical Unit Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Stockholm, Sweden.
Therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy may lead to motor difficulties in a third of children by age 11. Continued monitoring into adolescence is recommended for these children.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Pediatric Motor Development
- Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Background:
- Neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a serious condition requiring intervention.
- Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is a standard treatment for HIE.
- Longitudinal data on motor development after TH for HIE is crucial for understanding long-term outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the longitudinal motor development in children treated with TH for HIE.
- To explore motor functioning in early adolescence among these children.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up study of children treated with TH for HIE.
- Motor development assessed using Alberta Infant Motor Scale, Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III, and Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2).
- Parental MABC-2 Checklist and WISC-V for general cognition were also utilized.
Main Results:
- At 11.1 years, 31% had MABC-2 scores indicating risk of motor difficulties, and 52% had parental scores indicating everyday motor challenges.
- Children at risk at 11.1 years showed significantly lower motor percentiles at 2.1 years.
- Longitudinal motor development showed a weak association with Full Scale IQ.
Conclusions:
- A third of survivors of TH-treated HIE, without moderate/severe cerebral palsy, exhibited motor difficulties by age 11.
- Motor difficulties appeared to increase over time.
- Children treated with TH for HIE warrant follow-up until at least middle school age.
