Table 1 Clinical characteristics of patient samples analysed by RT-qPCR for the validation cohort.

From: Neuronal let-7b-5p acts through the Hippo-YAP pathway in neonatal encephalopathy

Perinatal characteristics

Moderate to severe NE with TH and favourable MRI outcome (Group 1A) n = 15

Moderate to severe NE with TH and unfavourable MRI outcome (Group 1B) n = 15

Mild NE without TH (Group 2) n = 15

P value

Gestational age, (completed weeks + days)

40 + 4 (39 + 3– 41 + 4)

40 + 2 (38 + 4–41)

40 + 2 (39 + 3–41 + 4)

0.430

Male sex, n (%)

10 (67%)

12 (80%)

6 (40%)

0.071

Birth weight (g)

3700 (3318–3905)

3240 (2745–3685)

3520 (3145–3972)

0.101

Apgar score at 10 min

5 (4–7)

4 (4–6)

9 (8–0)

<0.001***

Worst pH within 1 h

6.88 (6.77–6.95)

6.87 (6.64–7.00)

N/A

0.923

Worst base deficit within 1 h

−17.45 (−14.12 to −20.85)

−19.3 (−17 to −22.9)

N/A

0.381

Need for respiratory support at 10 min, n (%)

12 (80%)

13 (87%)

4 (27%)

0.001**

Need for chest compressions, n (%)

2 (13%)

6 (40%)

1 (7%)

0.038*

Antenatal sentinel event present, n (%)

3 (20%)

1 (7%)

N/A

0.598

Pattern of MRI injury, n (score)

BG (Score 0–3)

PLIC (Score 0–2)

WM/CC (Score 0–3)

13 (0), 2 (1), 0 (2), 0 (3)

15 (0), 0 (1), 0 (2)

11 (0), 3 (1), 1 (2), 0 (3)

2 (0), 0 (1), 5 (2), 8 (3)

2 (0), 3 (1), 10 (2),

3 (0), 4 (1), 2 (2), 6 (3)

N/A

N/A

Normal neurodevelopmental outcome, n (%)

15 (100%)

1 (7%)

N/A

<0.001***

Age at DBS sample S1 (decimal hours)

14.8 (10.8–21.1)

18.1 (12.4–21.1)

22.8

(14.9–32)

0.07

Age at DBS sample S2 (decimal hours)

60.2 (51.1–67.0)

54.6 (51.1–61.4)

N/A

0.907

Age at DBS sample S3 (decimal hours)

97.8 (88.9–104.1)

95.4 (87.0–100.4)

N/A

0.643

  1. Values are median (IQR) unless indicated otherwise; N/A, Not Applicable; *, **, *** denote significant p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively. NE neonatal encephalopathy, TH therapeutic hypothermia, DBS dried blood spot. MRI were rated using a validated method17, with ranges of component scores for each of BG Basal Ganglia, PLIC Posterior Limb of the Internal Capsule, WM White Matter, CC Cerebral Cortex. Neonates with an unfavourable outcome had a severe pattern of injury including reversed or abnormal signal intensity bilaterally on T1- and/or T2-weighted sequences in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC); multifocal or widespread abnormal signal intensity in the basal ganglia and thalami (BGT); and severe widespread white matter (WM) lesions including infarction, haemorrhage and long T1 and T2. Neonates with MRIs predictive of a favourable outcome had either normal images or less severe patterns of injury that are associated with normal or only mildly abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes. Consensus was reached in cases of disagreement. In this cohort we have shown that using this method, cerebral MRI is highly predictive of neurodevelopmental outcome16.
Back to article page