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Elevated arterial blood pressure is associated with peri-intraventricular haemorrhage

  • Neonatology
  • Original Paper
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Abstract

In a prospective study, brain ultrasound scans were performed in 42 newborns (median birth weight 1700g, range 1020–3720 g; gestational age 32 weeks, 26–36) to reveal peri-intraventricular haemorrhage (PIVH) (grades I–IV) as well as echodensities (ED) and/or periventricular leucomalacia (PVL). ECG and arterial blood pressure were recorded on magnetic tape at 8h intervals during the first 24 h of life for further computer analysis. Heart rate (HR) and its variability (HRV) indices RMSM (long-term variability) and RMSSD (short-term variability), together with their coefficients of variation, were computed. Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean blood pressures (MBP) were detected as average values for 2-min stationary segments together with the respective minima and maxima. The indices of variability and their coefficients of variation were computed for the arterial pressure. PIVH was found in 12 newborns and ED in 8 (of whom two developed PVL). The remaining 22 served as controls. Neither HR, HRV nor BP variability differed between the groups. DBP was higher in the group with PIVH (39 mmHg) when compared to both the controls (33 mmHg,P<0.05) and the ED group (32 mmHg,P<0.01). MBP behaved respectively (45 mmHg, 38 mmHg, 37 mmHg,P<0.01). SBP behaved also similarly when gestational age and birth weight were used as covariates (57 mmHg, 48 mmHg, 47 mmHg,P<0.01).

Our results suggest that elevated diastolic, mean and systolic blood pressure are significantly associated with peri-intraventricular haemorrhage in preterm newborn infants.

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Abbreviations

ABP :

arterial blood pressure

BMDP :

statistical software library

CV :

coefficient of variation for RMSM (relative overall variability)

CVS :

coefficient of variation for RMSSD (relative beat-to-beat variability)

DBP :

diastolic blood pressure

ED :

parenchymal echodensity

HR :

heart rate

HRV :

heart rate variability

MBP :

mean blood pressure

PIVH :

peri-intraventricular haemorrhage

PP :

pulse pressure

PVL :

periventricular leucomalacia

RDS :

respiratory distress syndrome

RMSM :

root mean square of the difference of the mean (overall variability)

RMSSD :

root mean square of the successive differences (beat-to-beat variability)

SBP :

systolic blood pressure

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiorespiratory Research Unit, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, SF-20520, Turku, Finland

    Juhani U. Grönlund, Jarmo Jalonen & Ilkka A. T. Välimäki

  2. Department of Paediatrics, University of Turku, Finland

    Heikki Korvenranta, Pentti Kero & Ilkka A. T. Välimäki

  3. Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Finland

    Juhani U. Grönlund

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  1. Juhani U. Grönlund
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  2. Heikki Korvenranta
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  5. Ilkka A. T. Välimäki
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Grönlund, J.U., Korvenranta, H., Kero, P. et al. Elevated arterial blood pressure is associated with peri-intraventricular haemorrhage. Eur J Pediatr 153, 836–841 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01972894

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01972894

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