Midazolam dose correlates with abnormal hippocampal growth and neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants.

Authors

Emma G Duerden, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Ting Guo, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Lorin Dodbiba, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
M Mallar Chakravarty, Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec & Departments of Psychiatry and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Vann Chau, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario & University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Kenneth J Poskitt, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and Children's & Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, and Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Anne Synnes, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and Children's & Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, and Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Ruth E Grunau, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and Children's & Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, and Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Steven P Miller, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario & University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2016

Journal

Annals of neurology

Volume

79

Issue

4

First Page

548

Last Page

559

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1002/ana.24601

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Very preterm-born neonates (24-32 weeks of gestation) are exposed to stressful and painful procedures during neonatal intensive care. Analgesic and sedation therapies are essential, and opiates and benzodiazepines are commonly used. These medications may negatively impact brain development. The hippocampus may be especially vulnerable to the effects of pain and analgesic and/or sedative therapies and contribute to adverse outcomes. The effect of invasive procedures and analgesic-sedative exposure on hippocampal growth was assessed, as was that of hippocampal growth on neurodevelopmental outcome.

METHODS: A total of 138 neonates (51% male, median gestational age = 27.7 weeks) underwent magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans, early in life (postmenstrual age [PMA] = 32.3 weeks) and at term-equivalent age (PMA = 40.2 weeks). Volumes and DTI measures of axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and mean diffusivity (MD) were obtained from the hippocampus. Cognitive, language, and motor abilities were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III at 18.7 months median corrected age. Models testing the association of invasive procedures with hippocampal volumes and DTI measures accounted for birth gestational age, sex, PMA, dose of analgesics/sedatives (fentanyl, morphine, midazolam), mechanical ventilation, hypotension, and surgeries.

RESULTS: Total midazolam dose predicted decreased hippocampal volumes (β = -1.8, p < 0.001) and increased MD (β = 0.002, p = 0.02), whereas invasive procedures did not (β = 0, p > 0.5 each). Lower cognitive scores were associated with hippocampal growth (β = -0.31, p = 0.003), midazolam dose (β = -0.27, p = 0.03), and surgery (β = -8.32, p = 0.04).

INTERPRETATION: Midazolam exposure was associated with macro- and microstructural alterations in hippocampal development and poorer outcomes consistent with hippocampal dysmaturation. Use of midazolam in preterm neonates, particularly those not undergoing surgery, is cautioned.

Notes

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