Predictive value of lactic acid level, peripheral blood nucleated red blood cell count combined with aEEG score for brain injury in premature infants

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-490X.2026.03.004

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To analyze the value of aEEG score combined with lactate(Lactic acid)level and absolute count of nucleated red blood cells(NRBC)in peripheral blood for early diagnosis of brain injury in preterm infants.Methods A total of 207 preterm infants born in the Obstetrics Department, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from February 2022 to April 2025 were selected as the research subjects. Subjects were stratified into a brain injury group(n=80)and a non-brain injury group(n=127)based on cranial magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)results.The general data, total aEEG score, lactate level, and absolute counts of NRBC on day 1 and day 3 after birth were compared between the two groups. Results The total aEEG score in the brain injury group was ［6.00(5.00, 7.00)］, lower than that ［7.00(8.00, 9.00)］in the non-brain injury group. The lactic acid level in the brain injury group was ［2.95(2.20, 4.85)］, higher than that ［1.90(1.40, 2.50)］in the non-brain injury group. The absolute count of NRBC on the 1st day after birth in the brain injury group was ［1.12(0.44, 2.29)］, higher than that ［0.39(0.26, 0.79)］ in the non-brain injury group(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that the higher aEEG score was a protective factor for brain injury in preterm infants(P<0.05), while higher lactate levels and absolute count of NRBC on day 1 after birth were risk factors for brain injury(P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve(AUC)for single evaluation of brain injury by total aEEG score, lactate level, and absolute count of NRBC on day 1 after birth were 0.826, 0.797, and 0.737 respectively. The combined prediction of the three indicators achieved an AUC of 0.892. Conclusion The combination of aEEG score, lactate level, and absolute count of NRBC in peripheral blood can boost early diagnostic accuracy and efficiency for brain injury in preterm infants, providing a reference for clinical intervention.

Key words: brain injury, amplitude-integrated electroencephalography score, lactic acid level, nucleated red blood cell count

CLC Number:

Wang Ling, Shi Qunfang, Wang Yu. Predictive value of lactic acid level, peripheral blood nucleated red blood cell count combined with aEEG score for brain injury in premature infants[J]. Journal of Hebei Medical College for Continuing Education, 2026, 43(3): 39-49.

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