A longitudinal study of cerebral blood flow over the first 30 months

Abstract

To investigate prospectively the development of cerebral perfusion during infancy, serial quantitative measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF) volume were performed in two healthy children from birth up to the age of 30 mo. A total of 28 CBF volume measurements were done in either of the children. Absolute flows were measured in the internal carotid and vertebral arteries on both sides. Blood flow was calculated as the product of angle-corrected time-averaged flow velocity and the cross-sectional area of the vessel. Starting from 67 and 80 mL/min, respectively, at birth an almost 10-fold increase of CBF volume was observed in both children during the examination period. Half of this rise occurred during the first 6 mo, probably reflecting the steep metabolic incline during this period of synaptogenesis. The continuous increase in CBF volume after the sixth month of life mainly corresponds to brain growth. Estimated CBF (based on estimated brain weights) increased from 21 and 23 mL 100 g(-1) min(-1), respectively, after birth to 46 and 53 mL 100 g(-1) min(-1), respectively, during the first 6 mo of life in both children, remaining stable thereafter. This study is the first to provide longitudinal data of CBF during the first 30 mo after birth.