Determination of Follow-up Timing of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential in Infants with Risk Factors

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2000;2(2):101-109.
Published online May 10, 2000.

Abstract

Objective : To research the risk factors affecting brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) and to determine optimal follow-up timing for high-risk infants with abnormal BAEP at the initial test. Method : The total number of subjects were 126 infants, who were consist of 85 infants with normal BAEP at the first examination and 41 infants who revealed abnormal BAEP at the first examination but being normalized by regular follow-up exams. We recorded factors that could affect initial BAEP: intrauterine age (correctional age), intrauterine period, method of delivery, perinatal asphyxia, Apgar score after 1 minute, birth weight, the highest serum bilirubin level, and the results of cranial ultrasonography. All subjects were regrouped by each factor, and then they are resorted by the result of BAEP. The above factors, and peak and interpeak latencies of BAEP were compared between subgroups. We checked up the time when abnormal BAEP were normalized. Results : 1) Prematurity (<37 weeks), low birth weight (<2.5 kg), and high bilirubin level (>10 mg/dl) were correlated to abnormal BAEP in infants (p<0.05). 2) 91% high-risk infants who had revealed abnormal BAEP at the first exam were normalized within 48 weeks, 96% within 52 weeks by correctional age. Conclusion : This study suggests that BAEP should be done as an initial screening test for early detection of neurological deficit of high-risk infants, especially, with prematurity, low birth weight, or hyperbilirubinemia, and also suggests that abnormal BAEP should be rechecked after 51 weeks by correctional age.

Key Words: Brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), Prematurity, Hyperbilirubinemia, High-risk infants