HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IS ASSOCIATED WITH REGIONAL CHANGES IN CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW VELOCITY AND ALTERATIONS IN CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION

Doppler-derived indices of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and ech ocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function were measured i n 18 patients with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy HIE (group I) and in 28 normal controls (group II), Group-I infants had a subnormal dist ribution of CBFV values increasing over the first 85 h postnatally. CB FV values were constantly higher in the internal carotid than in the a nterior cerebral artery, During the first 24 h postnatally, pulsatilit y and resistance indices of cerebral blood flow were significantly hig her in group-I patients, From 30 to 85 h after birth, resistance indic es were lower in group-I infants with severe HIE. Depressed left ventr icular function and/or hypotension was documented in 50% of group-I pa tients.