Developmental changes in cerebral and visceral blood flow velocity in healthy neonates and infants

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in Doppler blood flow velocity (BFV) in cerebral and visceral arteries during infancy.

Methods: The BFV was measured in 37 healthy term neonates in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), basilar artery, internal carotid artery (ICA), celiac artery (CA), superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and renal artery (RA).

Results: The mean BFV increased and the resistive index decreased (P < .05) in all cerebral arteries, SMA, and CA by the age of 12 to 23.9 hours and in the RA by the age of 24 to 35.9 hours compared with 2 to 11.9 hours. A further significant increase (P < .05) of the mean BFV occurred in all arteries except the ICA and CA by the age of 72 to 120 hours compared with 12 to 23.9 hours. By the age of 21 to 59 days, the mean BVF doubled in all investigated arteries compared with 2 to 11.9 hours, with a further significant increase (P < .05) by the age of 150 to 240 days in cerebral and renal arteries. There was no correlation between the mean blood pressure (BP) and mean BFV in the ACA and MCA. However, there was a positive correlation (r > or = 0.5; P < .05) between the BP and BFV in the RA and SMA at the age of 12 to 23.9 hours.

Conclusions: A significant increase in the cerebral and visceral BFV occurs normally throughout infancy, with the visceral BFV affected by BP changes during the first day of life.