Reduction in cerebral blood flow volume in infants complicated with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy resulting in cerebral palsy

Hypoxic ischemic brain can result in cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and learning disabilities in surviving children. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the cerebral blood flow volume in infants complicated with brain damage after the birth. Nine term infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and 41 normal term infants were studied. Four infants with HIE suffered from CP or mental retardation, and the other five infants exhibited normal neurodevelopment. The mean blood flow velocity and diameter of the internal carotid artery and the vertebral artery were measured for 28 days. The intravascular flow volume was determined by calculating the flow velocity and the cross-sectional area. The ejection fraction and cardiac output were obtained, and the mean blood pressures were recorded. The summed flow volumes in both the ICA and VA, and the total CBFV increased after the birth in both the normal infants and the infants diagnosed with HIE with no disability complications. The total blood flow volume was significantly lower in infants with HIE and CP than in normal infants on days 0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 21, and 28, and significantly lower in infants with HIE and CP than in normal infants with HIE on days 2, 4, and 7. The ejection fraction was significantly lower in infants with HIE than in normal infants only on day 0. Our results suggest that the total cerebral blood supply is decreased in infants with HIE in those complicated with brain damage.