Guo Yu, Peng Xuehua
Wuhan Children's Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, 430000, China.
Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Children's Medical Imaging, Wuhan, China.
Pediatr Radiol. 2025 Apr 30. doi: 10.1007/s00247-025-06248-9.
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a critical condition leading to significant neonatal mortality and long-term disability. Timely and accurate diagnosis is vital for effective treatment and improved outcomes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a key tool for assessing brain injury in neonates, with advanced techniques such as amide proton transfer imaging providing insights into tissue metabolism and pH. Amide proton transfer imaging detects changes in protein content and pH values, offering a sensitive reflection of metabolic alterations in the brain environment. Studies have shown that amide proton transfer imaging can identify differences in brain regions associated with HIE, even in the absence of conventional MRI abnormalities. Compared to other imaging modalities, amide proton transfer imaging exhibits high sensitivity in detecting protein content changes and pH, providing molecular-level information that aids in early diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Research also suggests that amide proton transfer imaging can predict long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, supporting the formulation of personalized rehabilitation plans. Despite its advantages, amide proton transfer imaging has limitations and future research should focus on technical optimization, integration with other imaging techniques, and the discovery of new biomarkers. The integration of amide proton transfer imaging with clinical practice has the potential to significantly improve the management of neonatal HIE, leading to better treatment outcomes and quality of life for affected infants.
新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病（HIE）是一种导致新生儿显著死亡和长期残疾的严重病症。及时准确的诊断对于有效治疗和改善预后至关重要。磁共振成像（MRI）已成为评估新生儿脑损伤的关键工具，诸如酰胺质子转移成像等先进技术能够深入了解组织代谢和pH值。酰胺质子转移成像可检测蛋白质含量和pH值的变化，灵敏反映脑内环境的代谢改变。研究表明，即使在传统MRI无异常的情况下，酰胺质子转移成像也能识别与HIE相关的脑区差异。与其他成像方式相比，酰胺质子转移成像在检测蛋白质含量变化和pH值方面具有高灵敏度，能提供有助于早期诊断和治疗监测的分子水平信息。研究还表明，酰胺质子转移成像可预测长期神经发育结局，有助于制定个性化康复计划。尽管具有优势，但酰胺质子转移成像也存在局限性，未来研究应聚焦于技术优化、与其他成像技术的整合以及新生物标志物的发现。酰胺质子转移成像与临床实践的整合有潜力显著改善新生儿HIE的管理，为受影响婴儿带来更好的治疗效果和生活质量。
