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Updated: Jul 12, 2025
Application of an Amplitude-integrated EEG Monitor Cerebral Function Monitor to Neonates
Published on: September 6, 2017
Association of aEEG and brain injury severity on MRI at term-equivalent age in preterm infants
Elke Griesmaier1, Christina Schreiner1, Ira Winkler1
1Department of Pediatrics II (Neonatology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Insights
Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) can predict the severity of brain injury in preterm infants, as confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This aids in neonatal care and predicting infant outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Pediatric Brain Injury
Background:
- Detecting and monitoring brain injury in preterm infants is crucial for neonatal care.
- Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are key diagnostic tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between aEEG and MRI findings in a large cohort of preterm infants.
- To evaluate the predictive value of aEEG for brain injury severity detected by MRI.
Main Methods:
- Included 523 preterm infants.
- aEEG was assessed using the total maturation score (TMS).
- Cerebral MRI was evaluated using a validated scoring system.
Main Results:
- 146 infants (27.9%) had brain injury (111 mild, 35 severe).
- TMS was significantly higher in infants without injury compared to severe injury.
- TMS was significantly lower in infants with intraventricular hemorrhage compared to those without brain injury.
Conclusions:
- Early aEEG is predictive of brain injury severity as detected by MRI at term-equivalent age.
- Combining diagnostic measures may improve prediction of adverse outcomes in neonates.
- Further research is needed to determine if aEEG predicts neurodevelopmental outcomes across different preterm brain injury patterns.
Aim:
Measures to detect and monitor brain injury in preterm infants are amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To investigate the association between aEEG and MRI in a large cohort of preterm infants. Five hundred and twenty-three preterm infants were included in the study.
Methods:
AEEG was interpreted for the total maturation score (TMS) according to Burdjalov. Cerebral MRI was evaluated using a validated scoring system by Kidokoro.
Results:
One hundred and forty-six infants (27.9%) showed some form of brain injury, with 111 infants (21.2%) showing mild injury and 35 (6.7%) showing severe injury. TMS were significantly higher in infants without injury compared to severe injury. When comparing infants with isolated intraventricular haemorrhage to infants without brain injury, TMS were significantly lower.
Conclusion:
Prediction of adverse outcome is an important aspect of neonatal care. The combination of diagnostic measures evaluating brain injury might enhance our abilities in neonatal care to provide accurate information about later outcome. Early aEEG is predictive for the severity of brain injury detected by MRI at term-equivalent age. Whether aEEG is also predictive for neurodevelopmental outcome needs to be further investigated in relation to the various patterns of preterm brain injury.
