Amplitude-integrated EEG Differences in Premature Infants with and Without Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim: To evaluate differences in amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) recordings of infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of infants <= 27 weeks at birth who did (n = 17) or did not develop BPD (n = 17). aEEG tracings were recorded at 36(0)-36(6) weeks post-menstrual age for 6 h using the BrainZ BRM3 monitor. A cross-cerebral channel was evaluated using offline software Analyze (BrainZ).Results: Infants with BPD had lower gestational age and higher male predominance (25 +/- 1 weeks, 70%) compared with non-BPD infants (26 +/- 1 weeks, 30%, all p <= 0.03), but similar birth weight (704 +/- 195 vs. 796 +/- 167 g, p = 0.1). During active sleep, infants with BPD had wider span voltage (p = 0.03), higher lower border voltage (p < 0.03), as well as less periods of quiet sleep per hour (p < 0.01) compared with non-BPD infants. These differences persisted after adjustment for covariates.Conclusion: Infants with BPD have small but significant differences in their aEEG tracings compared with infants without BPD at 36 weeks. Further study of infants with BPD using aEEG appears justified to determine whether aEEG variables correlate with neurodevelopmental outcome.