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1 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
2 Department of Clinical Physics
3 Department of Medical Technology, Máxima Medical Center, PO Box 7777, 5500 MB Veldhoven, the Netherlands
4 Department of Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, the Netherlands
5 Department of Pediatrics, division of Neonatology, Academic Hospital Maastricht, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, the Netherlands
| Abstract |
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3 s lag in RR interval changes in relation to SBP. Baroreceptor reflex sensitivity, calculated from LF transfer gain, increased significantly with PMA, from 5 (preterm) to 15 ms mmHg1 (term). Baroreceptor reflex sensitivity correlated significantly with the (LF and) HF spectral powers of RR interval series, but not with the LF and HF spectral powers of SBP series. The principal conclusions are that baroreceptor reflex sensitivity and spectral power in RR interval series increase in parallel with PMA, suggesting a progressive vagal maturation with PMA.
(Received 29 June 2005;
accepted after revision 25 July 2005;
first published online 28 July 2005)
Corresponding author P. Andriessen: Máxima Medical Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, PO Box 7777, 5500 MB Veldhoven, the Netherlands. Email: p.andriessen{at}mmc.nl
| Introduction |
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The pharmacological method of altering the control of the cardiovascular system, however, is limited in neonates for medical ethical reasons. Spectral analysis offers the opportunity to decompose spontaneously occurring fluctuations in BP and RR interval series into a power spectrum, and to relate the character of the fluctuations to physiological processes. Low-frequency (LF) fluctuations at a frequency of approximately 0.1 Hz are ascribed to the BR activity and high-frequency (HF) fluctuations are associated with respiratory activity and vagal modulation (Akselrod et al. 1985). Cross-spectral analysis (notably transfer function parameter LF gain) between BP and RR interval fluctuations in the LF band (0.040.15 Hz) has been shown to be an estimate of the BRS (de Boer et al. 1987; Robbe et al. 1987; Honzíková et al. 1992; Head et al. 2001). Previously, we showed the feasibility of using cross-spectral analysis to estimate BRS from spontaneous BP and RR interval fluctuations in stable preterm infants (Andriessen et al. 2003). We found a BRS of approximately 4 ms mmHg1 in a selected population of stable preterm infants (gestational age, 2832 weeks) in the first week of life.
Various neonatal studies show a progressive increase in mean RR interval and RR interval variability, with a higher amount of HF relative to total variability with advancing gestational age (Clairambault et al. 1992; Eiselt et al. 1993; Chatow et al. 1995; Sahni et al. 2000). Since the parasympathetic system is mainly responsible for the modulation of respiratory associated HF variability of RR interval, this suggests a progressive maturation of parasympathetic cardiovascular control with age. However, because these studies lack beat-to-beat BP data, no interpretation can be given on BRS. Gournay et al. (2002) studied BR maturation by measuring BRS in preterm (gestational age, 2437 week) and full term infants. The BRS was lower in preterm infants (approximately 4 ms mmHg1) and increased with gestational age (approximately 10 ms mmHg1). In this study, BRS was calculated from very short time periods (lasting a few seconds) of RR interval response consistent with BR reflex activity (e.g. bradycardia in response to an increase in SBP or tachycardia in response to a decrease in SBP). However, the use of short time periods precluded analysis of RR interval or BP variability, and to relate spectral power analysis of RR interval and BP with BRS. Thus there is a lack of data with which to assess the development of the BR function in human neonates, using beat-to-beat data of RR interval as well as BP for spectral analysis and estimating the BRS.
The objectives of the study were to determine (1) the effect of postmenstrual age (PMA, gestational age + postnatal age) on the spectral power of the RR interval and SBP series; (2) the effect of PMA on BRS, investigated by cross-spectral power analysis of spontaneously occurring fluctuations in SBP and RR interval series (LF transfer function: coherence, gain and phase); and (3) to study the relationship between BRS and spectral power analysis of RR interval and SBP series.
| Methods |
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The study group consisted of 32 clinically stable infants (gestational age, 32.1 ± 3.7 weeks; birth weight, 1855 ± 808 g). Thirty infants were studied in the immediate postintensive care phase between 24 h and 7 days of postnatal life; two infants were studied at day 9 and 10, respectively. After correction for the postnatal age of measurement, the study group consisted of 16 preterm infants with a PMA between 28 and 32 weeks, 10 preterm infants with a PMA between 32 and 37 weeks and 6 term infants with a PMA between 37 and 42 weeks.
Table 1 shows the clinical characteristics of the study group. The primary diagnosis for the preterm infants were respiratory distress syndrome (n = 23), apnoea (n = 2) and hyperviscosity syndrome (n = 1). For term babies, the primary diagnosis were exchange transfusion for hyperbilirubinaemia (n = 1), transient tachypnoea of the newborn or pneumonia (n = 3) and idiopathic neonatal convulsions (n = 2). All infants were appropriate-for-gestational age, according to the Dutch growth charts (Kloosterman, 1970). Arterial catheters were neither inserted nor remained longer in place because of the study. All infants were breathing room air spontaneously. None had echo encephalographic evidence of cerebral haemorrhage or parenchymal lesions. In all subjects echocardiography revealed no structural abnormalities. All infants were judged as cardiovascularly stable without need of cardiotonic drugs (dopamine, dobutamine) or volume expanders at the time of the study. There were no signs or symptoms of asphyxia, respiratory distress, sepsis, or patency of the ductus arteriosus at the time of measurements. Babies with congenital or chromosomal abnormalities were excluded. Two babies with idiopathic convulsions had normal electroencephalographic tracings at the time of measurements and were on phenobarbital therapy with plasma levels within the therapeutic range. Of the preterm infants who were on caffeine therapy, serum concentration levels were between 10 and 17 mg l1. Values of electrolytes, blood gas analysis, and haematocrit were all within normal range at the time of the study.
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Data acquisition
A bipolar chest lead of the surface electrocardiogram (sample frequency, 512 Hz) and the transthoracic electric impedance waveforms were recorded by a Hewlett Packard neonatal monitor type Merlin (Waltham, MA, USA). Arterial BP (sample frequency, 256 Hz) was measured invasively through a 4-French catheter in the aortic position (n = 26) or in the right radial artery (n = 6), used for routine monitoring of vital functions and intensive care management. A 0.5 ml h1 infusion of heparinized physiological saline solution was continuously flushed through the catheter. Recordings were made in the prone position for 12 h. Data segments were selected subsequently during periods of regular breathing and spontaneous sleep with closed eyes and without gross body movements (quiet sleep state) (Prechtl, 1974). Data analysis was performed on 192-s-long segments. Because preterm infants have an immature and irregular respiratory drive, these 192-s-long segments were chosen as a compromise between the demands of sufficient duration and signal stability. The data selection during the quiet sleep state resulted in RR interval artefact free segments.
Data analysis
With respect to details of the spectral analysis we refer to a previous report (Andriessen et al. 2003). After detection of the R waves from the electrocardiogram, the beat-to-beat RR interval time series were resampled to obtain equidistant RR interval time series. SBP was identified from peak detection of the BP signal, resulting in an unevenly time spaced systogram. The systogram was converted into an equidistantly spaced time series using the same resampling method as used for the RR interval time series. Each 192-s-long segment of equidistant RR and SBP time series was subdivided into five half-overlapping 64-s segments. A fast Fourier transform was used to compute the auto- and cross-spectral density functions for each of these 64-s segments. A mean power spectrum was derived from five spectral density functions and the spectral power values in the ranges of interest were calculated. The data analysis included procedures to remove the direct current component and to reduce effects of spectral leakage. The data acquisition and analysis software package was developed at the department of Clinical Physics of our hospital in collaboration with the department of Physics of Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands.
Two frequency bands were defined, as indicated in Fig. 1. The LF band, reflecting BR activity, was defined between 0.04 and 0.15 Hz. Because the HF band primarily contains the reflection of respiratory associated parasympathetic activity, the HF band was individualized for each subject depending on his or her respiratory drive as described earlier (Andriessen et al. 2003). The respiratory rate was estimated by peak detection of the thoracic waveforms resulting in a mean value and a bandwidth between the 10th and 90th centiles of the breath-by-breath frequency. The frequency range between these centiles was used to identify each subject's individual HF band. The upper spectral limit of the HF band was less than half of the mean HR thereby meeting the requirements of the Nyquist critical frequency. The very low frequency band (00.04 Hz) was discarded to avoid the possible contribution of slow trend artefacts. The total frequency (TF) band of interest was the range between 0.04 and 1.5 Hz. Spectral power was calculated in each defined frequency band. The values for spectral power are presented in units of ms2 (for RR interval series) and mmHg2 (for SBP series).
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In addition to the spectral density power, the transfer function (coherence, transfer gain and phase) was calculated, as previously described in detail (Andriessen et al. 2003). The coherence function was computed to assess the amount of linear coupling between SBP and
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Statistical analysis
Data with a normal distribution are expressed as the mean ± S.D. The non-parametric spectral power values of RR interval and SBP series and transfer function variables (frequency, coherence, gain and phase) are expressed as median and inter-quartile range (IQR). Comparisons of variables between the three PMA groups were statistically evaluated with analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) and post hoc Scheffé's test for parametric data and the Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test for non-parametric data, with Bonferroni's correction for multiple comparisons. The correlation between PMA and indices of RR and SBP variability was evaluated with Spearman's rho rank correlation test for non-parametric data. Likewise, Spearman's rho correlation was used to evaluate the correlation between indices of RR and SBP variability and transfer function variables. The effect of possible covariables (sex, antenatal corticosteroids, caffeine and surfactant) on transfer functions gain and phase were studied with multiple regression analysis. Statistical significance was accepted with a P-value less than 0.05. All analyses were performed using the statistical software package SPSS version 11.5 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).
| Results |
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An example of RR interval and SBP power spectra of a spontaneously regular-breathing preterm subject measured at a PMA of 31 weeks is shown in Fig. 1. Note in the power spectra the following features: (1) a clear spectral peak is centred on 0.1 Hz in the LF band, both in the RR interval and SBP power spectra; (2) a clear HF spectral peak is centred on 0.80 Hz in the SBP power spectrum and a modest HF peak is seen in the RR interval power spectrum; and (3) the LF (0.040.15 Hz) and individual HF band (0.700.90 Hz) are indicated by vertical dotted lines.
Table 2 displays the spectral power parameters for the three PMA groups. In general, for RR interval series, the values of all spectral power parameters (LF-, HF-, total) were significantly higher in the term infants compared with the preterm infants. For SBP series, lower total and HF spectral values were observed in the term infants compared with preterm infants. Table 3 shows the correlation coefficients between PMA and the spectral power values of the RR interval and SBP series, respectively.
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For the total population, the median coherence value between SBP and RR interval in the LF band was 0.65 (IQR, 0.580.73). The high coherence values indicate reliable estimates of the LF transfer function parameters phase and gain. LF transfer phase did not correlate with PMA. At LF, SBP fluctuations lead RR interval changes by a median of 2.6 s (IQR, 3.8 to 2.1). Linear regression analysis showed that LF transfer gain (BRS) significantly correlated with PMA (BRS = 1.1 x PMA 30 ms mmHg1, r = 0.80, P < 0.01) as shown in Fig. 3. In a multiple regression analysis, sex, antenatal corticosteroids, caffeine and surfactant did not significantly influence the linear regression between PMA and LF transfer gain. No significant differences were found in transfer function values between data obtained from the aortic or radial artery catheter. HF transfer phase was close to 0 s and the HF transfer gain was significantly lower than LF transfer gain (HF transfer data not shown). Table 2 displays the details of the LF transfer function values for each PMA group.
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| Discussion |
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Data about the ontogeny of the BR and functional maturation in the human infant are limited and conflicting (Gootman, 1991; Mazursky et al. 1998). This is partly caused by the limited experimental (pharmacological or mechanical) possibilities to challenge the BR in neonates. The passive head-up tilt test has been applied to neonates, measuring responses in BP, HR and limb blood flow to body tilting. In preterm infants (gestational age, 2637 weeks), passive head-up tilt resulted in significant vasoconstriction of the lower limb with a slight fall in aortic BP and unchanged HR (Waldman et al. 1979). The inadequate ability to maintain BP and the lack of a tachycardia suggest that preterm infants lack the fully integrated BR response as seen in adults. In term infants, however, a fall in BP was observed in conjunction with a tachycardia and a fall in limb blood flow, suggesting the presence of active reflex vasoconstriction (Picton-Warlow & Mayer, 1970). Others, however, conclude that term as well as preterm babies (gestational age, 3337 weeks) show a well-developed HR response to passive head-up tilt (Finley et al. 1984). A clear HR response to passive head-up tilt is present in full-term babies after 2 h of birth and progressively increases within the first postnatal day (Chen et al. 1995). By contrast, some other studies do not show consistent evidence of a well-developed BR-mediated HR response in the neonate (Moss et al. 1968; Holden et al. 1985). The disparity in results may be, beside gestational age, explained by methodological differences, age at study, smoothness of tilting procedure, sleep state and the methods of measurement. Thus, the available studies of HR response to passive head-up tilt in human neonates suggest at least qualitatively a BR-mediated HR response is present in early postnatal life.
Only a few studies in the human infant have estimated the BRS quantitatively from spontaneously occurring fluctuations in BP and RR interval series (Drouin et al. 1997; Gournay et al. 2002; Andriessen et al. 2003). Notwithstanding different methodology (time domain or frequency domain analysis), the spontaneous BRS obtained from these studies show comparable values, ranging from approximately 35 ms mmHg1 (very preterm infant) to 1015 ms mmHg1 (term infant). In addition, in the present study a significant correlation was observed between PMA and BRS. Recently, a comparison of various techniques to estimate the BRS from spontaneously occurring fluctuations in BP and RR interval showed strongly related results between the time sequence and LF transfer gain method (Laude et al. 2004). Two studies, performed in mechanically ventilated and paralysed human neonates undergoing major surgery, have estimated the pressor and depressor response of the BR by administering adrenaline and sodium nitroprusside, respectively (Murat et al. 1988, 1989). In both studies, the pressor BR slope exceeded that of the depressor BR slope. In term neonates, the mean slopes were 11 (range 324) and 4 ms mmHg1 (range 212), respectively. These findings are consistent with results obtained from critically ill near-term neonates (gestational age, 3542 weeks) during and after extra-corporal membrane oxygenation in which BRS, derived from spontaneous fluctuations in BP and RR interval, was higher during BP rise than during BP fall (Buckner et al. 1993). In normal conscious humans, reflex parasympathetic stimulation and withdrawal primarily control RR interval responses to changes in BP (Eckberg, 1980). Because cardiac slowing provoked by raising arterial BP is mediated primarily by an increase in parasympathetic discharge, it is possible that parasympathetic stimulation results in a more marked (pressor) BR response than parasympathetic withdrawal (depressor) in the neonate.
Despite the methodological differences between several studies, we may conclude that in the human infant: (1) a BR-mediated RR interval response can be demonstrated in the immediate postnatal period, and (2) BRS is limited in very preterm infants but increases with advancing PMA.
The novelty of the present study is that, in contrast to earlier studies, we investigated for the first time RR interval as well as SBP variability in a neonatal population with a considerable variation in PMA. With advancing PMA, the mean RR interval increases, which is assumed to be an effect of progressive parasympathetic activity (Gootman, 1991). With advancing PMA we observed higher (LF-, HF- and total) spectral power values of RR interval series. Like others (Clairambault et al. 1992; Chatow et al. 1995), we observed a higher amount of HF relative to total spectral power with advancing PMA (Table 2). Since the parasympathetic system is mainly responsible for the modulation of respiratory associated HF variability of RR interval, this suggests that the parasympathetic contribution increases with PMA. Furthermore, we observed that increase in BRS was significantly correlated with an increase in (LF-, HF- and total) variability of RR interval series, without a significant correlation in variability of SBP series. The close relationship between BRS and RR interval variability is also demonstrated in a previous study, in which atropine markedly decreased BRS as well as RR interval variability, but not SBP variability (Andriessen et al. 2004). Therefore, we think that in human infants BR function mainly depends on parasympathetic modulation. However, BRS was also positively correlated with SBP and RR interval (Table 3). Thus, we cannot exclude the possibility that the increase in BRS is merely the result of a different operating point on the sigmoid-shaped BR curve due to increasing SBP with advancing PMA.
Thus, parasympathetically mediated fluctuations in RR intervals and BRS increase progressively with PMA. In addition, previous and present data indicate that the increase in BRS might be an effect of progressive parasympathetic activity with PMA.
Methodological considerations
A limitation of the study group is its heterogeneity in the underlying pathology of the infants. Compared with term infants, preterm infants differ with respect to primary pulmonary diagnosis, surfactant administration, caffeine therapy for apnoea of prematurity and indomethacin therapy for closing the ductus arteriosus before the measurements. Another limitation is the unequal amount of data between the different PMA groups. As a consequence of our restrictive policy to introduce invasive catheters in infants, especially recruiting cardiovascularly stable non-asphyxiated term neonates with the presence of umbilical arterial catheters was difficult. A limitation is that PMA does not exclusively represent intra- or extrauterine development because it reflects intrauterine (function of gestational age) as well as postnatal maturation. In addition, another limitation might be the effect of antenatal administration of steroids on glucocorticoid-dependent maturation of the BR and fetal HR variability. Antenatal glucocorticoids decrease BRS after birth in a preterm delivered sheep model (Segar et al. 1998). In human fetuses antenatal glucocorticoids transently lower short- and long-term fetal HR variability for 13 days after administration and normalizes it at day 4 (Derks et al. 1995). The period between antenatal glucocorticoid administration and postnatal measurement was at least 3 days in this study, and hence it is possible that our postnatal results might reflect the effect of antenatal steroids rather than normal development of the preterm infant. Some of the above-mentioned covariables (caffeine, surfactant, and antenatal glucocorticoids) did not show a significant influence on the linear regression between PMA and BRS. Finally, a limitation concerns the method of estimating BRS from spontaneously occurring fluctuations in RR interval and SBP. With this method, information about BR-mediated HR response is limited to the physiological gain and operating point, and the overall reflex parameters, such as the range of RR interval response, level of the upper and lower plateaus, pressor and depressor gain, are not evaluated (Parlow et al. 1995).
Conclusion
The major findings are that parasympathetically mediated fluctuations in RR intervals and BRS increase progressively with PMA. We suggest that the increase in BRS is an effect of progressive parasympathetic activity with PMA. Very low BRS values in very preterm infants might have clinical importance because a BR system is essential in the short term regulation of BP, and thus in avoiding hypotensive or hypertensive episodes. BP changes due to intensive care management are presumably much more difficult to handle in the preterm infant and may contribute to conditions that predispose to pathological diseases in the preterm infant.
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