Faculty of Health Sciences, Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Canada.
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Canada.
Clin Neurophysiol. 2018 Sep;129(9):1891-1898. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2018.05.023. Epub 2018 Jun 22.
Extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g) survivors are exposed to significant perinatal adversity. In many cases, mothers of these infants receive antenatal corticosteroids (ACS), which reduce offspring neonatal mortality but may have lasting neuropsychiatric effects. However, the long-term neurophysiological effects of being born at ELBW and exposed to ACS are unknown.
We compared resting frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha asymmetry in ELBW survivors (n = 51), some of whom were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids (ELBW-S; n = 23) versus non-exposed (ELBW-NS; n = 28), and normal birth weight controls (NBW; n = 66) in adulthood (m = 32.3 years).
ELBW survivors exhibited greater relative right frontal EEG alpha (11.5 to 13.5 Hz) asymmetry at rest relative to NBW controls. A linear relation was observed between increased exposure to perinatal adversity (NBW vs. ELBW-NS vs. ELBW-S) and greater relative right frontal asymmetry. Relative right frontal asymmetry was also linked to contemporaneous psychopathology in all individuals.
In the fourth decade of life, exposure to perinatal adversity was associated with patterns of frontal brain activity that reflect risk for psychopathology. Exposure to additional physiological stresses such as antenatal corticosteroids may amplify these effects.
The mental health of ELBW survivors, particularly those exposed to antenatal corticosteroids, should be monitored into adulthood.
极低出生体重（ELBW；<1000 克）幸存者经历了严重的围产期逆境。在许多情况下，这些婴儿的母亲接受产前皮质类固醇（ACS）治疗，这降低了后代新生儿的死亡率，但可能有持久的神经精神影响。然而，出生时为 ELBW 并接受 ACS 暴露的长期神经生理影响尚不清楚。
我们比较了 ELBW 幸存者（n=51）的静息额部脑电图（EEG）α不对称性，其中一些人接受了产前皮质类固醇（ELBW-S；n=23）与未暴露（ELBW-NS；n=28）的比较，以及正常出生体重对照组（NBW；n=66）在成年期（m=32.3 岁）。
ELBW 幸存者在静息时表现出相对右侧额部 EEGα（11.5 至 13.5 Hz）不对称性增加，与 NBW 对照组相比。观察到随着围产期逆境暴露增加（NBW 与 ELBW-NS 与 ELBW-S），相对右侧额部不对称性增加的线性关系。相对右侧额部不对称性也与所有个体的同时期精神病理学有关。
在生命的第四个十年中，暴露于围产期逆境与反映精神病理学风险的额叶脑活动模式有关。暴露于额外的生理应激，如产前皮质类固醇，可能会放大这些影响。
ELBW 幸存者，特别是那些接受过产前皮质类固醇治疗的幸存者，应在成年期进行心理健康监测。
