Altered cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism in preterm neonates and the relationship to anemia: A noncontrast MRI study

Abstract Objective The preterm brain is susceptible to structural injuries, which may be related to an imbalance between blood supply and oxygen metabolism. However, the effect of preterm birth on cerebral oxygen metabolism and its underlying mechanism have not been fully elucidated. The present stu...

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Main Authors: Zixuan Lin, Dan Wu, Dengrong Jiang, Hanzhang Lu, Ying Qi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Annals of the Child Neurology Society
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20081
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author Zixuan Lin
Dan Wu
Dengrong Jiang
Hanzhang Lu
Ying Qi
author_facet Zixuan Lin
Dan Wu
Dengrong Jiang
Hanzhang Lu
Ying Qi
author_sort Zixuan Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective The preterm brain is susceptible to structural injuries, which may be related to an imbalance between blood supply and oxygen metabolism. However, the effect of preterm birth on cerebral oxygen metabolism and its underlying mechanism have not been fully elucidated. The present study measured cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism using noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods in preterm neonates and examined its relationship with anemia of prematurity. Methods Fifty neonates with a gestational age of 28–42 weeks were enrolled. Cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) were measured with T2‐relaxation‐under‐spin‐tagging (TRUST) MRI, together with cerebral blood flow (CBF). Results We showed that CBF (p = 0.00021) and CMRO2 (p < 0.0001) increased with gestational age while OEF increased with postnatal age (p = 0.0013). Higher OEF was also associated with a higher Apgar score at birth (p = 0.039). Furthermore, hematocrit significantly mediates the increase of OEF with postnatal age (p < 0.001). Structural equation modeling analysis suggested a bidirectional relationship between CBF and CMRO2; both contributed to the changes in OEF. Interpretation These findings demonstrated an altered cerebral oxygen metabolism in preterm brain, suggesting a potential role of MRI–based oxygenation measurement in the assessment of transfusion and intervention for preterm neonates.
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spelling doaj-art-4a3354c6145e4622a8a9dcc933e8399a2025-08-20T01:58:43ZengWileyAnnals of the Child Neurology Society2831-32672024-12-012426928010.1002/cns3.20081Altered cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism in preterm neonates and the relationship to anemia: A noncontrast MRI studyZixuan Lin0Dan Wu1Dengrong Jiang2Hanzhang Lu3Ying Qi4Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science Zhejiang University Hangzhou ChinaKey Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science Zhejiang University Hangzhou ChinaThe Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USAThe Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USADepartment of Radiology Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang ChinaAbstract Objective The preterm brain is susceptible to structural injuries, which may be related to an imbalance between blood supply and oxygen metabolism. However, the effect of preterm birth on cerebral oxygen metabolism and its underlying mechanism have not been fully elucidated. The present study measured cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism using noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods in preterm neonates and examined its relationship with anemia of prematurity. Methods Fifty neonates with a gestational age of 28–42 weeks were enrolled. Cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) were measured with T2‐relaxation‐under‐spin‐tagging (TRUST) MRI, together with cerebral blood flow (CBF). Results We showed that CBF (p = 0.00021) and CMRO2 (p < 0.0001) increased with gestational age while OEF increased with postnatal age (p = 0.0013). Higher OEF was also associated with a higher Apgar score at birth (p = 0.039). Furthermore, hematocrit significantly mediates the increase of OEF with postnatal age (p < 0.001). Structural equation modeling analysis suggested a bidirectional relationship between CBF and CMRO2; both contributed to the changes in OEF. Interpretation These findings demonstrated an altered cerebral oxygen metabolism in preterm brain, suggesting a potential role of MRI–based oxygenation measurement in the assessment of transfusion and intervention for preterm neonates.https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20081anemiacerebral blood flowcerebral oxygen metabolismoxygen extraction fractionpretermTRUST MRI
spellingShingle Zixuan Lin
Dan Wu
Dengrong Jiang
Hanzhang Lu
Ying Qi
Altered cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism in preterm neonates and the relationship to anemia: A noncontrast MRI study
Annals of the Child Neurology Society
anemia
cerebral blood flow
cerebral oxygen metabolism
oxygen extraction fraction
preterm
TRUST MRI
title Altered cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism in preterm neonates and the relationship to anemia: A noncontrast MRI study
title_full Altered cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism in preterm neonates and the relationship to anemia: A noncontrast MRI study
title_fullStr Altered cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism in preterm neonates and the relationship to anemia: A noncontrast MRI study
title_full_unstemmed Altered cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism in preterm neonates and the relationship to anemia: A noncontrast MRI study
title_short Altered cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism in preterm neonates and the relationship to anemia: A noncontrast MRI study
title_sort altered cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism in preterm neonates and the relationship to anemia a noncontrast mri study
topic anemia
cerebral blood flow
cerebral oxygen metabolism
oxygen extraction fraction
preterm
TRUST MRI
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20081
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