Heart rate variability as possible marker of brain damage in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: a systematic review

Conclusion: A growing body of research supports the use of HRV as non-invasive, bedside tool for the monitoring of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The currently available data about the role of HRV as prognostic tool in case of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy are promising but require further validation by future studies.What is Known:• Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive monitoring technique to assess the autonomic nervous system activity.• A correlation between abnormal HRV and cerebral injury has been reported in the perinatal period, and HRV has been suggested as possible marker of brain damage in case of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.What is New:• HRV might provide precocious information about the entity of brain injury in asphyxiated neonates and be of help to design early, specific, and personalized treatments according to severity.• Further investigations are required to confirm these preliminary data.
Source: European Journal of Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research