The efficacy of systemic hypothermia therapy initiated at different times on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy / 中国新生儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the clinical efficacy, safety and prognosis of systemic hypothermia therapy on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)initiated at different times after birth.Method:From January 2013 to August 2018, term neonates (within 12 hours after birth) diagnosed with neonatal moderate to severe HIE and received systemic treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital were retrospectively included. According to the starting time of hypothermia therapy, the neonates were assigned into three groups within 6 h after birth (TH1 group), 6~12 h (TH2 group) and conventional treatment group (control group). Their clinical data during perinatal period, hospitalization period and follow-up at 6-month were reviewed. Their clinical and neurodevelopmental outcomes were compared using SPSS 25.0 statistical software.Result:A total of 147 neonates with moderate to severe HIE were enrolled. 111 received 72-hour hypothermia therapy, including 79 in the TH1 group, 32 in the TH2 group and 36 in the control group. The neurobehavioral test scores at 10-day of life in the TH1 group were significantly higher than the control group ( P<0.05). No significant differences existed among the TH2 group, the TH1 group and the control group ( P>0.05). The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed injuries in the TH1 group and the TH2 group were significantly milder than the control group ( P<0.05). No significant differences of brain injuries existed between TH1 group and TH2 group ( P>0.05). 100 patients completed Bailey Infant Intelligence Development Scale at 6-month follow-up. 21 had abnormal scores. No statistically significant differences existed in the psychomotor development index (PDI) scores among the three groups ( P>0.05). TH1 and TH2 groups had significantly fewer cases with mental development index (MDI) <70 points than the control group ( P<0.05). No statistically significant differences existed of MDI scores between the TH1 group and the TH2 group ( P>0.05). No statistically significant differences existed of PDI scores among the 3 groups ( P>0.05). At 6-month, the mortality rate of the control group (32.1%, 9/28) was significantly higher than the TH1 group (6.6%, 4/61) ( P<0.05). No significant differences existed of mortality rate at 6-month among the TH2 group, the TH1 group and the control group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Systemic hypothermia therapy for neonatal HIE is safe. Starting systemic hypothermia therapy at 6~12-hour after birth may also be effective in reducing mortality rate and improving neurodevelopmental outcome.