Extrauterine life duration and ontogenic EEG parameters in preterm newborns with and without major ultrasound brain lesions

Abstract Objective To determine whether extrauterine life duration is associated with different ontogenic electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns in premature infants compared with neonates born at later gestational ages (GAs). Methods We included 97 preterm infants of 24–36 weeks GA. We performed neurosonography and EEG recordings at week 1 and 2 of postnatal life, then every two weeks until term conceptional age (CA). We analyzed background EEG and sleep states and compared them at matched CA. Results In the group of infants without major ultrasound lesion (MUL), those Conclusions Premature infants without MUL showed prolonged dysmature EEG patterns as from early CAs (≥29 weeks). This finding was more evident in those with MUL. Significance Extrauterine EEG development in prematures may differ from that of babies born at a later GA.