Hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia in neonatal encephalopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Neonatal dysglycemia: a review of dysglycemia in relation to brain health and neurodevelopmental outcomes

Neonatal dysglycemia has been a longstanding interest of research in neonatology. Adverse outcomes from hypoglycemia were recognized early but are still being characterized. Premature infants additionally introduced and led the reflection on the importance of neonatal hyperglycemia. Cohorts of infants following neonatal encephalopathy provided further information about the impacts of hypoglycemia and, more recently, highlighted hyperglycemia as a central concern for this population. Innovative studies exposed the challenges of management of neonatal glycemic levels with a "u-shape" relationship between dysglycemia and adverse neurological outcomes. Lately, glycemic lability has been recognized as a key factor in adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Research and new technologies, such as MRI and continuous glucose monitoring, offered novel insight into neonatal dysglycemia. Combining clinical, physiological, and epidemiological data allowed the foundation of safe operational definitions, including initiation of treatment, to delineate neonatal hypoglycemia as ≤47 mg/dL, and >150-180 mg/dL for neonatal hyperglycemia. However, questions remain about the appropriate management of neonatal dysglycemia to optimize neurodevelopmental outcomes. Research collaborations and clinical trials with long-term follow-up and advanced use of evolving technologies will be necessary to continue to progress the fascinating world of neonatal dysglycemia and neurodevelopment outcomes. IMPACT STATEMENT: Safe operational definitions guide the initiation of treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Innovative studies exposed the challenges of neonatal glycemia management with a "u-shaped" relationship between dysglycemia and adverse neurological outcomes. The importance of glycemic lability is also being recognized. However, questions remain about the optimal management of neonatal dysglycemia to optimize neurodevelopmental outcomes. Research collaborations and clinical trials with long-term follow-up and advanced use of evolving technologies will be necessary to progress the fascinating world of neonatal dysglycemia and neurodevelopment outcomes.

Relationship between EEG spectral power and dysglycemia with neurodevelopmental outcomes after neonatal encephalopathy

OBJECTIVE

We investigated how electroencephalography (EEG) quantitative measures and dysglycemia relate to neurodevelopmental outcomes following neonatal encephalopathy (NE).

METHODS

This retrospective study included 90 neonates with encephalopathy who received therapeutic hypothermia. EEG absolute spectral power was calculated during post-rewarming and 2-month follow-up. Measures of dysglycemia (hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and glycemic lability) and glucose variability were computed for the first 48 h of life. We evaluated the ability of EEG and glucose measures to predict neurodevelopmental outcomes at ≥ 18 months, using logistic regressions (with area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUROC] curves).

RESULTS

The post-rewarming global delta power (average all electrodes), hyperglycemia and glycemic lability predicted moderate/severe neurodevelopmental outcome separately (AUROC = 0.8, 95%CI [0.7,0.9], p < .001) and even more so when combined (AUROC = 0.9, 95%CI [0.8,0.9], p < .001). After adjusting for NE severity and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain injury, only global delta power remained significantly associated with moderate/severe neurodevelopmental outcome (odds ratio [OR] = 0.9, 95%CI [0.8,1.0], p = .04), gross motor delay (OR = 0.9, 95%CI [0.8,1.0], p = .04), global developmental delay (OR = 0.9, 95%CI [0.8,1.0], p = .04), and auditory deficits (OR = 0.9, 95%CI [0.8,1.0], p = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

In NE, global delta power post-rewarming was predictive of outcomes at ≥ 18 months.

SIGNIFICANCE

EEG markers post-rewarming can aid prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes following NE.

Factors associated with neonatal hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, a case-control study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify perinatal risk factors associated with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in neonates. Secondary objectives included an examination of clinical and biochemical characteristics at the time of diagnosis and an exploration of the duration of diazoxide therapy.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted, involving individual chart reviews of inborn infants diagnosed with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (the HH group) between 2014 and 2021. These cases were paired with controls (the non-HH group) belonging to the same gestational age (GA) strata who did not exhibit HH or only had transient postnatal hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

A total of 52 infants with HH were matched with corresponding controls. The mean GA in the HH group was 34.4 ± 3.1 weeks. Notably, the HH group exhibited lower mean minimum plasma glucose (PG) levels and required higher glucose infusion rates in comparison to the non-HH group (26.5 ± 15.6 vs. 49.1 ± 37.7 mg/dL and 12.9 ± 3.8 vs. 5.7 ± 2.1 mg/kg/min, respectively; p<0.001 for both). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, only two variables, fetal growth restriction (FGR) and neonatal sepsis, demonstrated significant associations with HH (adjusted odds ratio [95 % confidence interval]: 8.1 [2.1-31.0], p=0.002 and 6.3 [1.9-21.4], p=0.003, respectively). The median duration of diazoxide therapy for the HH group was 4 months.

CONCLUSIONS

FGR and neonatal sepsis emerged as notable risk factors for HH. These infants exhibited lower PG levels and necessitated higher glucose infusion rates compared to their non-HH counterparts. Importantly, a substantial proportion of the HH group received diazoxide therapy, with a median treatment duration of 4 months.