POSSIBILITIES OF VBM OF THE BRAIN IN CHILDREN WITH HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Abstract

The purpose of the study: to determine the diagnostic capabilities of MR-morphometry of the brain in children with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Materials and methods: the study included 93 children aged from 8 months to 3 years. All children were divided into two groups - with signs of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (43 people) and without visible changes on MRI and clinical signs of HIE (50 people). For all patients, VBM was performed to determine the volume of various brain structures - the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, white matter, basal ganglia, thalamus, etc. Results: the data acquired with VBM showed significant volume loss of the subcortical structures (thalamus, putamen, nucleus accumbens and brainstem) as well as delayed volume increase with age of the same structures found in children with HIE. We also found difference in volumes of brainstem, thalami and putamen in males and females of the same groups. These structures were larger in males. Conclusion: the data obtained indicates the possibility of using the VBM to detect early signs of the anatomical structures’ volume loss in children with HIE. The results indicate that the volumes of the thalamus, putamen, nucleus accumbens and brainstem decrease the earliest, as well as the slowing rate of maturation of the brain in HIE. Found gender differences in the volume of cerebral structures in early age patients require further study.