Prognostic value of sleep analysis in newborns with perinatal hypoxic brain injury

The correlation between the findings of polygraphic sleep analysis and the late prognosis was studied in 37 full-term newborns after perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury, and in 9 healthy neonates. The relationship with a poor prognosis was significant if there was (i) a sleep cycle disturbance (decreased level of active sleep; persistence of quiet sleep-trace alternate pattern in the total cycle); (ii) immaturity in bioelectric brain maturation greater than or equal to 4 weeks; (iii) depression of background activity. The correlation with favourable outcome was significant if (i) the EEG was normal; (ii) sleep spindles occurred. The following findings were unrelated to prognosis: asymmetry, paroxysmal abnormalities, and reactivity of EEG to light or sound stimulation.