Neurological and Visual Outcomes in Infants and Toddlers Following Therapeutic Hypothermia for Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.
Pediatr Neurol
; 151: 131-137, 2024 Feb.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38157718
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The majority of studies have investigated neurodevelopmental outcomes, whereas visual impairment is less explored in children with a history of neonatal (hypoxic-ischemic) encephalopathy. Our aim was to perform a detailed neurological and visual assessment and also to investigate the presence of cerebral visual impairment in infants and toddlers with neonatal encephalopathy.METHODS:
Thirty participants with a history of neonatal encephalopathy, who had been hospitalized for therapeutic hypothermia, underwent a detailed neurological examination at age five to 36 months. Age-matched, 30 healthy children were also enrolled as a control group. All children in the study and control groups received neurological and a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination, including visual field and visual acuity. Presence of cerebral visual impairment was also evaluated clinically.RESULTS:
Rates of cerebral palsy, severe motor impairment, cognitive impairment, epilepsy, and cerebral visual impairment were found to be 20%, 10%, 15.3%, 10%, and 20%, respectively. When compared with healthy controls, oculomotor functions, pupillary light response, refractive parameters, anterior/posterior segment examinations, ocular visual impairment rates, and last, visual acuities were found similar. However, we found a statistically significant increase in visual field defects in our study group.CONCLUSIONS:
It could be better to perform a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination including visual field, visual acuity, and oculomotor functions by a pediatric ophthalmologist to accurately diagnose neurovisual deficits in infants following therapeutic hypothermia. Early identification and rehabilitation of the visual deficits might improve the neurodevelopment in these children.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cerebral Palsy
/
Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain
/
Hypothermia, Induced
/
Infant, Newborn, Diseases
Limits:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Newborn
Language:
En
Journal:
Pediatr Neurol
/
Pediatr. neurol
/
Pediatric Neurology
Journal subject:
NEUROLOGIA
/
PEDIATRIA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Country of publication:
Estados Unidos