Investigating brain haemodynamics during hypoglycaemia in very preterm neonates using diffuse optical tomography

Area of Science:

• Neonatal physiology
• Neuroscience
• Medical technology

Background:

• Very preterm neonates are susceptible to hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia post-birth.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the brain's hemodynamic response to glycemic variations in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between glycemic changes and local brain hemodynamic responses in very preterm neonates.
• To explore the impact of hypoglycemia on cerebral blood volume in early neonatal life.

Main Methods:

• Utilized continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and diffuse optical tomography (DOT) for simultaneous data acquisition.
• Monitored sixty very preterm neonates over several days post-birth.
• Analyzed DOT data during hypoglycemic events in 17 neonates, correlating sensor glucose concentration (SGC) with blood volume changes.

Main Results:

• Found correlations between changes in blood volume and SGC during hypoglycemic events.
• Observed spatial consistencies in hemodynamic responses across different time windows of hypoglycemia.
• Indicated a coupling between SGC and brain hemodynamics in very preterm newborns.

Conclusions:

• Glycemic fluctuations, specifically hypoglycemia, are associated with altered brain hemodynamics in very preterm neonates.
• This study provides initial evidence of a link between glucose regulation and cerebral blood flow in this vulnerable population.
• Highlights the potential of combined CGM and DOT for monitoring neonatal brain health.