Morphine affects brain activity and volumes in preterms: An observational multi-center study

• Objective: We hypothesized that morphine has a depressing effect on early brain activity, assessed using quantitative aEEG/EEG parameter and depressed activity will be associated with brain volumes at term in extremely preterm infants. Study design: 174 preterm infants were enrolled in 3 European tertiary NICUs (mean GA:26 +/- 1wks) and monitored during the first 72 h after birth with continuous 2 channel aEEG. Six epochs of aEEG recordings were selected and minimum amplitude of aEEG (min aEEG), percentage of time amplitude< 5 mu V (% of time < 5 mu V), spontaneous activity transients (SATrate) and interSAT interval (ISI) were calculated. For infants receiving morphine, the cumulative morphine dosage was calculated. In a subgroup of 58 infants, good quality MRI at term equivalent age (TEA) and the cumulative morphine dose until TEA were available. The effects of morphine administration and cumulative dose on aEEG/EEG measures and on brain volumes were investigated. Results: Morphine administration had a significant effect on all quantitative aEEG/EEG measures, causing depression of early brain activity [longer ISI (beta 2.900), reduced SAT rate (beta -1.386), decreased min aEEG (beta -0.782), and increased % of time < 5 mu V (beta 14.802)] in all epochs. A significant effect of GA and postnatal age on aEEG/EEG measures was observed. Cumulative morphine dose until TEA had a significant negative effect on total brain volume (TBV) (beta -8.066) and cerebellar volume (beta -1.080). Conclusions: Administration of sedative drugs should be considered when interpreting aEEG/EEG together with the negative dose dependent morphine impact on brain development.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Pediatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Pediatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Farmaceutiska vetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Pharmaceutical Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Morphine

Preterm infants

Brain volumes

Neonatal aEEG/EEG

electrical-activity

infants

growth

pain

differentiation

maturation

patterns

exposure

predicts

survival

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Pediatrics

Morphine

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