Analysis on the MRI and BAEP Results of Neonatal Brain with Different Levels of Bilirubin
Authors: Zhongxing Lu , Ding Shouling , Wang Fen , Lv Haitao 
Published: December 2020

Background：To explore whether there is abnormality of neonatal brains’ MRI and BAEP with different bilirubin levels, and to provide an objective basis for early diagnosis on the bilirubin induced subclinical damage on brains.Methods: To prospective study: analyze the clinical data of 103 neonatal patients, who had been hospitalized in Neonatology Department of Taicang First People’s Hospital from March 2013 to September 2015, to conduct routine brain MRI examination , BAEP testing and to analyze BAEP and MRI image results of the neonatal patients, who were divided into three groups based on the levels of total serum bilirubin concentration (TSB), 16 cases in mild group (TSB:0.0~229.0μmol/L), 49 cases in moderate group (TSB: 229.0~342.0μmol/L) and 38 cases in severe group (TSB≥342.0μmol/L); Results: We found as follows: A. Comparison of the bilirubin value of the different group : 1. The bilirubin value of the mild group is 171.99±33.50 μmol/L, the moderate group is293.98±32.09 μmol/L, and the severe group is 375.59±34.25 μmol /L . And the comparison of bilirubin values of the three groups of neonates (P＜0.01) indicates the difference is statistically significant (P＜0.01). 2. The bilirubin value of the pre-term group is 289.70±85.38μmol/Land the full-term group is 310.36±72.32 μmol/L, but the comparison of the bilirubin values between pre-term group and full-term group indicates that the difference is not statistically significant (P＞0.05).3. The bilirubin value of the normal brain MRI group(82) is 305.55±74.54 μmol/L and the abnormal brain MRI group is 303.56±83.04μmol/L; the comparison of bilirubin values between the two groups indicates that the difference is not statistically significant(P＞0.05). B. The weight value of the ﹤2500g group is 2.04±0.21 and the ≥2500ggroup is 3.39±0.46; the weight comparison of the two groups indicates that the difference is statistically significant (P＜0.01). C. Comparison of the abnormal MRI of the different groups: 1.The brain MRI result's abnormal ratio of the mild group is 31.25%, the moderate group is 16.33% and the severe group is 21.05%, but the comparison of brain MRI results of the three neonates groups indicates that the difference is not statistically significant (P＞0.05). 2.The brain MRI result's abnormal ratio of the pre-term is 30.77% and the full-term group is 16.88%, but the comparison of brain MRI results between prem-term group and full-term group indicates that the difference is not statistically significant (P＞0.05). 3.The brain MRI result's abnormal ratio of the ﹤2500g group is 37.50% and the ≥2500g group is 17.24%; but the comparison of brain MRI results of two neonates groups indicates that the difference is not statistically significant(P＞0.05). D. Comparison of abnormal MRI signal values of globus pallidus on T1WI in different groups: 1. The comparison of normal group signal values with that of mild group (p < 0.05), with that of moderate group and with that of severe group (p < 0.01) indicates that the difference is statistically significant; 2. The comparison of signal values between mild and moderate groups (p < 0.05) and between mild group and severe group (p < 0.01) indicates that the difference is statistically significant; 3. The comparison of signal values between moderate group and severe group indicates that the difference is statistically significant(p < 0.05). E. Comparison of BAEP testing results in groups: 1. There were 27(26.21%) cases in abnormalities of the BAEP results of all 103cases bilirubin patients. 2. There were 15(18.29%) cases in abnormalities of the BAEP result of the 82 cases normal brain MRL , 2(40%) cases in abnormalities of the BAEP result of the 5 cases abnormal MRI in mild bilirubin group, 4（50%） cases in abnormalities of the BAEP result of the 8 cases abnormal MRI in moderate bilirubin group and 6（75%）cases in abnormalities of the BAEP result of the 8 cases abnormal brain MRI in severe bilirubin group. 3. After one month review of the BAEP result, there was 0（0.00%） abnormal case in the normal MRI and the mild group; there were 1（20%） abnormal case in the moderate group and 2（25%） cases in the severe group. Conclusion: At low level of bilirubin, central nervous system damage may also occur and can be detected as abnormality by MRI and BAEP. Meanwhile, MRI and BAEP can also provide early abnormal information for the judgment of central nervous system damage of the children with NHB who have no acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE) clinical features, and provide clues for early treatment and early intervention.