EARLY [F-18] FDG POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY IN INFANTS WITH HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY SHOWS HYPERMETABOLISM DURING THE POSTASPHYCTIC PERIOD

Six full-term infants suffering from perinatal asphyxia and with moder ate or severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy were investigated by po sitron emission tomography (PET). Regional cerebral metabolic rates of glucose (rCMR(gl)) were determined using [2-F-18]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-g lucose ([F-18]FDG) PET scans at a median age of 2.5 days (range 2-5 da ys). Localized increases in rCMR(gl) were visually observed in five in fants. In a subgroup of three infants, absolute values of rCMR,I in di fferent brain regions were calculated. In all cases the results of the PET studies were in good agreement with those of the neuroradiologica l, neurophysiological and clinical investigations. Information indicat ing pathophysiological events could be extracted earlier with PET than with conventional morphological imaging techniques. We conclude that [F-18]FDG-PET scans performed in critically ill, asphyxiated infants v ery soon after birth provide valuable information for the prediction a bout neurological outcome.