[MS4-2D-3] The Impact of Thyroid Hormone on Diffusion Tensor Imaging for the Developing White Matter
Objectives: Transient hypothyroidism of prematurity (THOP) had been considered to increase risk of disabling cerebral palsy in preterm infants. Whether THOP is correlated to abnormal myelination which resulted in cerebral palsy is not well established. We investigated the correlation of thyroid hormone level, neurodevelopment outcome, and white matter structure in premature infants in this pilot study.
Methods: Eighty one premature infants aged from 23-35 weeks were admitted to NICU in Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. TSH level at initial, 18 hour, 24 hour of admission was collected by blood spots. Neurodevelopmental outcome was monitored by Bayley III. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was applied for the exploration the characterization of white matter microstructure. White matter tract integrity was determined by measuring DTI coefficient factors.
Result: Our 81 premature babies were categorized into early preterm (GA<30 weeks) and late preterm (GA > 30 weeks). We demonstrated the early preterm babies had significant lower psychomotor development index (PDI) than late preterm ones. Gestational age but not TSH levels is correlated to neurodevelopment outcome in the 2-year follow-up by utility of bivariate correlation analysis. We firstly reported that late preterm babies had more intact white matter integrity over anterior and posterior limb of internal capsule and external capsule by fractional anisotrophy (FA) detection.
Conclusion: Our pilot study reported that gestational age but not THOP take influence on neurodevelopment outcome in the premature babies. White matter tract integrity is more intact in the late preterm babies over anterior and posterior limb of internal capsule and external capsule regions.
Methods: Eighty one premature infants aged from 23-35 weeks were admitted to NICU in Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. TSH level at initial, 18 hour, 24 hour of admission was collected by blood spots. Neurodevelopmental outcome was monitored by Bayley III. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was applied for the exploration the characterization of white matter microstructure. White matter tract integrity was determined by measuring DTI coefficient factors.
Result: Our 81 premature babies were categorized into early preterm (GA<30 weeks) and late preterm (GA > 30 weeks). We demonstrated the early preterm babies had significant lower psychomotor development index (PDI) than late preterm ones. Gestational age but not TSH levels is correlated to neurodevelopment outcome in the 2-year follow-up by utility of bivariate correlation analysis. We firstly reported that late preterm babies had more intact white matter integrity over anterior and posterior limb of internal capsule and external capsule by fractional anisotrophy (FA) detection.
Conclusion: Our pilot study reported that gestational age but not THOP take influence on neurodevelopment outcome in the premature babies. White matter tract integrity is more intact in the late preterm babies over anterior and posterior limb of internal capsule and external capsule regions.