A comparative study of brainstem auditory evoked potentials in preterm and full-term infants

Abstract

Background: Preterm infants can have many neurological problems. An enormous amount of fetal brain development occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy. They include myelination, glial cell migration and the development of a complex gyral pattern. The brain doesn't show the normal growth after birth in preterm infants. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) are a noninvasive neurophysiologic assessment of brainstem maturation in babies.

Methods: BAEPs in 25 preterm and 25 full-term infants were considered for the study. Infants having history of birth trauma, metabolic disorders or intracranial infection were excluded. BAEP waveforms (absolute and interpeak latencies) were recorded and analyzed. Student t test was used to analyze the data thus acquired.

Results: Analysis of data revealed a significant increase in latency of BAEP waveform V (P<0.05). Other latencies and interpeak latencies of BAEP waveforms were comparable.

Conclusion: The preterm infants have a prolonged latency of BAEP waveform V suggestive of a retarded myelination of the central auditory pathway. Thus BAEP could be a useful electrophysiological test to assess neuronal myelination and maturation in preterm infants.