Subcortical brain volumes in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Background: Despite treatment with therapeutic hypothermia, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is associated with adverse developmental outcomes, suggesting the involvement of subcortical structures including the thalamus and basal ganglia, which may be vulnerable to perinatal asphyxia, particularly during the acute period. The aims were: (1) to examine subcortical macrostructure in neonates with HIE compared to age- and sex-matched healthy neonates within the first week of life; (2) to determine whether subcortical brain volumes are associated with HIE severity.

Methods: Neonates (n = 56; HIE: n = 28; Healthy newborns from the Developing Human Connectome Project: n = 28) were scanned with MRI within the first week of life.