New 15-minute scan could help diagnose brain damage in babies up to two years old

A 15-minute scan could help diagnose brain damage in babies up to two years old than current methods.

In a study of over 200 babies at seven hospitals across the UK and the USA, researchers found the brain scan, called magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, predicted damage with 98 per cent accuracy.

Brain damage affects one in 300 births in the UK, and is usually caused by oxygen deprivation. However, doctors are unable to accurately assess the extent of a baby's brain damage.

MRI scan shortly after birth. This allows doctors to look at the eye of the eye, and to look at it. Doctors then use this information to give parents an estimate of the extent of the damage, and the possible long-term disabilities of their child may face.

However, this method is only between 60-85 per cent accurate, and is strongly related to the radiologist's individual judgment, meaning the prognosis can be determined by the scans, and where the scan is done. So health professionals can only confirm that they have reached the age of two years old.

In the new study, led by Imperial College London, scientists used MR spectroscopy to assess the health of brain cells in an area called the thalamus, which is one of the most commonly reported.

The N-acetylaspartate – a high-level test for healthy cells called neurons. A level of 9-10 is found in healthy neurons, causing a level of 3-4.

The technology used is the same as that needed for an MRI scan, and only requires the baby to spend an additional 15 minutes in the scanner.

In the new trial, published in the journal Lancet Neurology, the scan was performed at the same time as the routine MRI scan when a baby was between four and 14 days old.

The scan does not carry any additional cost to the NHS, and the data can be easily analyzed by any radiographer.

Dr. Sudhin Thayyil, study author and Director of the Center for Perinatal Neuroscience in Imperial's Department of Medicine said: "At the moment, parents have an incredibly anxious two-year wait before they can be reliably informed if their child has any long-lasting brain damage This article is only available in French. This article is only available in French. This article is only available in French. the future, and get the care and resources in place to support their child's long term development. "

In the trial, funded by the National Institute for Health Research and the Medical Research Council, all of the babies had received so-called cooling therapy immediately after birth. This is a newborn treatment with a newborn's brain, and has a special place in the body. Evidence has shown that it can help reduce the risk of illness.

The babies then had their brain scan soon after this therapy, and a detailed developmental assessment at two years of age. The results suggested the MR spectroscopy at two weeks of prediction of the level of development at two years old.

Dr. Thayyil added that the scan can also help scientists develop new treatments to treat brain injury in babies: "At the moment, when doctors are trialling a new therapy that may boost development of children with brain damage, they must wait two years until they can They also need to study with this new scan, they will be able to assess this, with a much smaller number of infants. "

He added that the next step in the UK is a clinical tool. "Most NHS hospitals already have the facilities and software to perform this scan, it's just a case of increasing awareness and training."

"I remember the terror when we did not hear a cry" – Christine's story

Christine Reklaitis gave birth to her daughter Georgiana in 2016, and took part in the trial at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London.
She said: "I had a healthy pregnancy, but during labor my midwife struggled to find Georgiana's heartbeat, and she was born shortly afterwards via emergency c-section.

I remember the terror when we did not cry, but thankfully was breathed, and was whisked away to intensive care, and placed in an incubator. The doctors told us they were going to be cool, but they thought it would be safe.

We were asked to take part in a trial and quickly agreed. We felt our daughter's benefit from past studies, so we wanted to help develop future treatments.

After the first scan we were told the levels of a compound in its brain cells were low, but were increased when compared to normal levels.

She has had a lot of success, and is a normal two-year-old, and full of energy. We joke the cooling treatment stayed with her, as she never wants to wear a coat when we go outside.

We are so pleased we took part in this trial – and hope the research helps other families. "