Early Post-cooling Brain Magnetic Resonance for the Prediction of Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Newborns with Hypoxic–Ischemic Encephalopathy

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive role of early post-cooling brain magnetic resonance for developmental outcome in newborns with hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on 29 consecutive patients through magnetic resonance evaluation (visual analysis of the images and scoring of the detected lesions; mean diffusivity of semioval centre and lenticular nuclei; and area under the curve of basal ganglia N-acetylaspartate at proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging) and Griffiths Mental Development Scales–third edition at 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: Brain magnetic resonance was performed at a mean age of 5.7 ± 3.7 days. Newborns with no/minor magnetic resonance abnormalities had a better developmental outcome than patients with moderate or severe lesions. Structural and spectroscopic abnormalities in basal ganglia resulted in the most significant predictors for an unfavorable outcome. CONCLUSION: Normal magnetic resonance in early post-cooling phases is strongly associated with a favorable developmental outcome.