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Cyclic variation pattern of cerebral blood flow velocity and postconceptional age

  • Neonatology
  • Original Paper
  • Published:
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Abstract

In preterm neonates, the risk for intracerebral haemorrhage is linked to immaturity of cerebral autoregulation. The preterm's 2–5/min cyclic variation pattern of cerebral blood flow velocity is thought to reflect the degree of immaturity of autoregulation — a speculation to be tested. In a cross-sectional study 15 infants (gestational age 26–40 weeks, postconceptional age (PCA) 26–42 weeks, age 1–99 days were investigated. We performed a 10 min pulsed Doppler tracing on an internal carotid artery by means of a computer controlled 5 MHz Duplex device. Systolic velocity (Vs) was recorded pulse by pulse. After appropriate data transformation, in all infants the Fast Fourier Transform of the time course of Vs revealed the presence of a 2–5/min cyclic variation pattern (one sample z-test,P<0.0001). There was no significant correlation between proportionate spectral power of the 2–5/min frequency band and either PCA (r=0.23,P=0.42) or age (r=0.41,P=0.13). Between 26 and 42 weeks PCA, the cycling phenomenon is constant thus not reflecting cerebral maturation, and its presence does not mean immaturity of cerebral autoregulation.

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Abbreviations

AR :

autoregulation

BW :

birth weight

CBF :

cerebral blood flow

CBFV :

cerebral blood flow velocity

CBFV-O :

cerebral blood flow velocity oscillation

GA :

gestational age

LF :

low frequency

PCA :

postconceptional age

PIVH :

peri-intraventricular haemorrhage

PNA :

postnatal age

PVL :

periventricular leucomalacia

Vs :

systolic velocity

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universitäts-Kinderklinik, W19B, D-48129, Münster, Germany

    E. Michel, B. Zernikow & G. Jorch

  2. Fraunhofer Institut, St. Ingbert, Germany

    J. Steck & G. Kohlmann

  3. Kinderneurologie, Universitaire Ziekenhuisen, Leuven, Belgium

    K. von Siebenthal, S. Hirano, A. Fock & P. Casaer

Authors
  1. E. Michel
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  2. B. Zernikow
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  3. J. Steck
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  4. G. Kohlmann
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  5. K. von Siebenthal
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  6. S. Hirano
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  7. A. Fock
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  8. P. Casaer
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  9. G. Jorch
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Michel, E., Zernikow, B., Steck, J. et al. Cyclic variation pattern of cerebral blood flow velocity and postconceptional age. Eur J Pediatr 153, 751–755 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01954493

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01954493

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