Gabriella Musacchia1,2, Jiong Hu3, Vinod K Bhutani4, Ronald J Wong4, Mei-Ling Tong5, Shuping Han5, Nikolas H Blevins6, Matthew B Fitzgerald6. 1. Department of Audiology, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, 94103, USA. gmusacchia@pacific.edu. 2. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. gmusacchia@pacific.edu. 3. Department of Audiology, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, 94103, USA. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. 5. Department of Pediatrics, Nanjing Maternal and Child health Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. 6. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of auditory monitoring of neurophysiological status using frequency-following response (FFR) in neonates with progressive moderate hyperbilirubinemia, measured by transcutaneous (TcB) levels. STUDY DESIGN: ABR and FFR measures were compared and correlated with TcB levels across three groups. Group I was a healthy cohort (n = 13). Group II (n = 28) consisted of neonates with progressive, moderate hyperbilirubinemia and Group III consisted of the same neonates, post physician-ordered phototherapy. RESULT: FFR amplitudes in Group I controls (TcB = 83.1 ± 32.5µmol/L; 4.9 ± 1.9 mg/dL) were greater than Group II (TcB = 209.3 ± 48.0µmol/L; 12.1 ± 2.8 mg/dL). After TcB was lowered by phototherapy, FFR amplitudes in Group III were similar to controls. Lower TcB levels correlated with larger FFR amplitudes (r = -0.291, p = 0.015), but not with ABR wave amplitude or latencies. CONCLUSION: The FFR is a promising measure of the dynamic neurophysiological status in neonates, and may be useful in tracking neurotoxicity in infants with hyperbilirubinemia.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of auditory monitoring of neurophysiological status using frequency-following response (FFR) in neonates with progressive moderate hyperbilirubinemia, measured by transcutaneous (TcB) levels. STUDY DESIGN: ABR and FFR measures were compared and correlated with TcB levels across three groups. Group I was a healthy cohort (n = 13). Group II (n = 28) consisted of neonates with progressive, moderate hyperbilirubinemia and Group III consisted of the same neonates, post physician-ordered phototherapy. RESULT: FFR amplitudes in Group I controls (TcB = 83.1 ± 32.5µmol/L; 4.9 ± 1.9 mg/dL) were greater than Group II (TcB = 209.3 ± 48.0µmol/L; 12.1 ± 2.8 mg/dL). After TcB was lowered by phototherapy, FFR amplitudes in Group III were similar to controls. Lower TcB levels correlated with larger FFR amplitudes (r = -0.291, p = 0.015), but not with ABR wave amplitude or latencies. CONCLUSION: The FFR is a promising measure of the dynamic neurophysiological status in neonates, and may be useful in tracking neurotoxicity in infants with hyperbilirubinemia.