Cerebral MRI findings in neonatal hypoglycemia

Metabolic disturbances such as anoxia and hypoglycemia may adversely alter the development of the neonatal brain. While rapid and appropriate diagnosis with adequate therapy has a good prognosis; delayed detection and/or inappropriate therapy increases the risk of the development of irreversible brain damage. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies are essential in neonatal hypoglycemia to define the characteristics and severity of cerebral lesions after hypoglycemia, to decide the efficacy of preferred treatment modality and to predict the neurologic outcome. Although acute and long-term radiologic abnormalities associated with hypoglycemic episodes in children and adults are well documented, the details of the situation for neonatal hypoglycemia are still emerging. In this review, the impact of MRI findings of neonatal hypoglycemia on diagnosis, monitoring of treatment and neurologic outcome was discussed. © 2005 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved