Ischemic Encephalopathy (ischemic + encephalopathy)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


The pedunculopontine nucleus in developmental disorders of the basal ganglia

NEUROPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2008
Yuki Anzai
The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), which is located in the upper brainstem, contains cholinergic and non-cholinergic neurons, and has afferent and efferent connections to the basal ganglia and spinal cord. The PPN is known to be affected in adult-onset basal ganglia diseases, and we speculated that the PPN might be similarly insulted in developmental basal ganglia disorders. We immunohistochemically examined the expression patterns of acetylcholine esterase and tyrosine hydroxylase, markers of acetylcholinergic and catecholaminergic neurons, respectively, in the PPN pars dissipata (PPNd) of controls and patients with bilirubin encephalopathy (BE) and perinatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy with localized basal ganglia lesion (HIEbg). Controls showed an age-dependent change in the percentages of acetylcholinergic and catecholaminergic neurons. Three out of six BE cases and three out of six HIEbg cases showed a reduction in the percentage of acetylcholinergic neurons in the PPNd. Additionally, three BE cases demonstrated an increase in the percentage of catecholaminergic neurons. It is likely that the relative proportions of acetylcholinergic and catecholaminergic neurons in the PPN can be altered in developmental basal ganglia disorders. [source]


Changes in pulmonary arterial pressure in term-infants with hypoxic,ischemic encephalopathy

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2009
Jing Liu
Abstract Background:, Hypoxic,ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an important complication that results from birth asphyxia or some other adverse conditions and has a high risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. It is unclear, however, whether the elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) can aggravate the condition and prognosis of HIE. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the changes of PAP and HIE in term infants after birth asphyxia. Methods:, The left/right ventricle pre-ejection phase (LPEP/RPEP), left/right ventricle ejection time (LVET/RVET) and the ratios of LPEP/LVET and RPET/RVET were evaluated in 40 term infants with HIE and 40 healthy controls on days 1, 3, 7, and 12,14 after birth using echocardiogram. PAP such as pulmonary arterial diastolic pressure (PADP, mmHg), pulmonary arterial resistance (PAR, mmHg), and pulmonary arterial resistance/systemic resistance ratio (PAR/RS) was calculated using these indexes. Patient mortality was also evaluated. Results:, PADP, PAR, and PAR/RS were significantly higher in HIE patients than in healthy controls during the first week after birth, particularly in severe-degree HIE patients. And until the end of the first week of life, these indexes may return to the levels of healthy controls. Persistent fetal circulation (PFC) was found in nine patients (7/16 severe, 2/12 moderate HIE patients), and non-PFC was found in mild HIE patients. Two patients with PFC died. No patients without PFC died. The course of HIE was longer in patients with pulmonary hypertension than in those without. Conclusion:, Increased PAP is an important pathophysiological process that may influence the course and prognoses of HIE in infants after birth asphyxia, particular in severe HIE patients who often have PFC. Thus it is important to assess changes in PAP using echocardiography. [source]


Low cerebral blood flow velocity and head circumference in infants with severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and poor outcome

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2009
Pilvi Ilves
Abstract Aims: To evaluate long-term changes in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and head circumference in asphyxiated infants. Methods: CBFV was measured in 83 asphyxiated and 115 healthy term infants in anterior and middle cerebral, basilar and internal carotid artery (ICA) up to the age of 60,149 days. The psychomotor development and head circumference was followed for 18 months. Results. Mean CBFV was increased (p < 0.05) during the first days after asphyxia in infants with severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (n = 25) compared to control group or infants with mild to moderate HIE (n = 58) with maximum values found at the age of 36,71.9 h: in ICA (mean [95% CI]) 31.2 (25.5,36.6) cm/s in severe HIE infants compared to 13.0 (12.2,13.9) cm/s in controls. Decreased (p < 0.0001) mean CBFV developed in severe HIE infants by the age of 21,59 days: in ICA 14.1 (11.5,16.8) cm/s compared to 22.9 (21.4,24.4) cm/s in controls. Infants with severe HIE had similar mean height but lower head circumferences compared to controls (p < 0.05) at the age of 21,59 days. Conclusion: The high mean CBFV found in infants with severe HIE during the first days after asphyxia is temporary and low CBFV and head circumference develops by the age of 21,59 days. [source]