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Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the level of improvement in blood gas parameters in the first hours of age and normal and diffusion-restriction brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Materials and Methods: The study is a retrospective cohort study. Cases of the diagnosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) who received therapeutic hypothermia in our unit between January 2022 and January 2024 were included in the study. Clinical findings, blood gas values (first, cord; second, first hours of age; third, 24th hour of age), and MRI results were recorded from the case files and compared between normal and diffusion-restricted brain MRI groups.
Results: Diffusion-restricted brain MRI was detected in 10 out of a total of 19 cases. The 5-minute Apgar score was lower (p=0.038) and mechanical ventilator support was higher (P=.003) in the diffusion-restricted MRI group than in the normal MRI group. The relationship was shown between high base excess (P=.022) in cord blood gas, low HCO₃ (p=0.025) in the 24th hour blood gas, and convulsion (P=.033) in the diffusion-restricted MRI group. Additionally, it was found that only the improvement level of the pH value in the first hour of age was significant (P=.025) in the diffusion-restricted brain MRI group than in the normal MRI group.
Conclusion: We showed that there was a relationship between diffusion-restricted brain MRI and the improvement level in the pH value in the first hours of age of patients diagnosed with HIE who received treatment for therapeutic hypothermia.
Cite this article as: Yilmaz A, Uygur A, Celik B, Metin Akdag A, Baser D, Ipek Ozturk S. The relationship between the improvement level in blood gas parameters in time and brain MRI findings in newborns with the diagnosis of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2024;59(6):553-559.