Bilateral absence of cortical SEP and neuroimaging: Study of a cohort of 40 neonates suffering from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy treated with therapeutic hypothermia

The prognostic role of SEPs in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) was documented before the advent of therapeutic hypothermia (HT). Brain MRI as an established role as outcome measure in neonatal HIE. The prognostic role of the SEP has not been studied. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic role of SEP in neonatal HIE undergoing HT, using MRI as an outcome measure, since it has not been studied. We prospectively recruited 40 neonates with HIE treated with IT using TOBY’s criteria (2009–2011). The protocol includes SEP within the 1st week of life and brain MRI at the 2nd week of life. The recordings and the images were scored by Suppiej et al. (2010) and Glass et al. (2011), respectively. Bilateral absence of cortical SEP was associated to moderate and severe neuroimaging lesions with a PPV of 80% and NPV of 81% (sensitivity of 44% and specificity of 96%). Bilateral absence of cortical SEP is associated with MRI severe lesions, which are known to predict severe neuromotor disabilities. These data suggest that the prognostic role of SEPs is confirmed in neonatal HIE treated with IT.