川崎病患儿心率变异性与冠状动脉损害的相关性研究

目的 探讨川崎病(KD)患儿的心率变异性(HRV)指标与肌钙蛋白I(cTnI)和氨基末端脑钠肽前体(NT-proBNP)的相关性及其在预后中的应用价值。方法 将130 例KD 患儿分为冠状动脉损害组(n=47, CAL 组)和无CAL 组(n=83, NCAL 组), 同期选取110 例健康儿童为对照组, 29 例非心血管疾病恢复期患儿为非KD 组。各组儿童均行长程HRV 指标检测及分析。检测KD 组及非KD 组患儿血清NT-proBNP 及cTnI 水平。结果 同年龄性别KD 组患儿正常窦性N-N 间期标准差(SDNN)、相邻N-N 间期标准差的平均值(SDNNindex)、相邻N-N 间期之差>50 ms 的心搏数占心搏总数的百分数(PNN50)、极低频功率(VLF)、低频功率(LF)和高频功率(HF)值较对照组均明显下降, LF/HF 值较对照组升高(P<0.05)。CAL 组SDNN、全部记录中每5 min N-N 间期平均值的标准差(SDANN)、SDNNindex、相邻N-N 间期差值的均方根值(rMSSD)、PNN50、VLF、LF 和HF 值均低于对照组和非KD 组, LF/HF 值高于对照组(P<0.05)。CAL 组及NCAL 组的cTnI 和NT-proBNP 水平均高于非KD 组(P<0.05)。KD 患儿cTnI 与SDNN、HF 呈负相关, 与LF/HF 呈正相关(P<0.05);NT-proBNP 与SDNN、SDANN、HF 呈负相关(P<0.05)。结论 HRV 指标对KD 患儿的CAL 判断具有一定的临床意义。     

不同体重指数血管迷走性晕厥心脏抑制型儿童心率变异性的差异

目的探讨不同体重指数(BMI)血管迷走性晕厥心脏抑制型(VVS-CI)儿童心率变异性(HRV)的差异。方法回顾性分析2012年1月至2019年12月因晕厥或晕厥先兆在中南大学湘雅二医院儿童晕厥专科门诊诊断为VVS-CI的34例儿童的临床资料。根据身高、体重计算体重指数(BMI),分为偏瘦组(BMI≤18.4 kg/m²,n=19)和正常组(BMI 18.5-23.9 kg/m²,n=15)。对24 h动态心电图HRV进行分析。HRV分析采用线性分析法,时域指标SDNN、SDANN、rMSSD和pNN50,频域指标总功率(TP)、超低频功率(ULF)、极低频功率(VLF)、低频功率(LF)、高频功率(HF)和LF/HF。结果偏瘦组与正常组比较SDNN、SDANN和rMSSD差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),pNN50升高(P<0.05)。两组间TP、ULF、LF、HF和LF/HF差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),偏瘦组较正常组VLF降低(P<0.05)。偏瘦组、正常组不同性别之间时域指标、频域指标差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。偏瘦组<12岁较≥12岁SDNN、SDANN、LF升高(P<0.05),rMSSD、pNN50、TP、ULF、VLF、HF和LF/HF差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。正常组<12岁较≥12岁ULF升高、LF降低(P<0.05),SDNN、SDANN、rMSSD、pNN50、TP、VLF、HF和LF/HF差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论低BMI与正常BMI的VVS-CI儿童自主神经调节功能不同,引起HRV存在差异。相同BMI<12岁与≥12岁儿童之间HRV也存在差异。     

甲状腺功能亢进症儿童的甲状腺激素与心率减速力及心率变异性的相关性

目的 对甲状腺功能亢进症（简称“甲亢”）儿童的心率减速力（DC）、心率加速力（AC）、心率变异性（HRV）进行分析,并探讨甲亢儿童的血清甲状腺激素水平与DC、AC及HRV的关系。方法 选取甲亢儿童47例,另选取50例健康儿童为对照组,对所有受试者行24 h动态心电图检查,将甲亢组与对照组的DC、AC、心率（HR）及HRV各指标[RR间期总体标准差（SDNN）、RR间期平均值的标准差（SDANN）、相邻RR间期差值的均方根（RMSSD）、低频功率（LF）、高频功率（HF）]进行比较,并将甲亢儿童的甲状腺激素指标[游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸（FT3）、游离甲状腺素（FT4）]与DC、AC及HRV各指标进行相关性分析。结果 甲亢组的DC、SDNN、SDANN、RMSSD、LF、HF均低于对照组;AC和HR均高于对照组（P < 0.05）。甲亢儿童的血清FT3、FT4与DC、SDNN、SDANN、RMSSD、LF、HF均呈负相关（P < 0.05）;与AC和HR呈正相关（P < 0.05）。结论 甲亢儿童的心脏自主神经功能受损,表现为迷走神经张力降低。血清甲状腺激素水平越高,迷走神经张力越低,提示发生心血管疾病的危险性越大。     

维生素D缺乏对学龄前期肥胖儿童心脏自主神经功能的影响

目的 研究维生素D缺乏对学龄前期肥胖儿童心脏自主神经功能的影响。方法 242例学龄前期单纯性肥胖儿童,根据血清25-羟基维生素D（VitD）水平分为VitD缺乏组（76例）、VitD不足组（83例）及VitD充足组（83例）,将3组间心率减速力（DC）、心率加速力（AC）及心率变异性（HRV）进行比较;并分别将VitD不足组和缺乏组的VitD水平与DC、AC、HRV进行相关性分析。结果 DC、相邻RR间期差值的均方根（RMSSD）、低频功率（LF）以VitD缺乏组最低（P < 0.05）,AC值以VitD缺乏组最高（P < 0.05）,其中VitD不足组的DC、RMSSD和LF低于充足组,AC值高于充足组（P < 0.05）;VitD缺乏组的RR间期总体标准差（SDNN）、高频功率（HF）低于VitD充足组（P < 0.05）。VitD缺乏组的VitD水平与DC、SDNN、SDANN、RMSSD、LF、HF呈正相关（P < 0.05）,与AC呈负相关（P < 0.05）;VitD不足组的VitD水平与AC呈负相关（r=-0.257,P < 0.05）。结论 VitD不足和缺乏的学龄前期肥胖儿童均存在心脏自主神经功能障碍,且VitD浓度越低,心脏迷走神经张力越弱。     

Heart Rate Variability in Children with Fontan Circulation

Heart rate variability (HRV) can be used to study cardiovascular autonomic control. This study examines HRV in children with Fontan circulation and its change over time. Thirty-four children in two groups were examined. Group A consisted of 10 patients who had undergone total cavopulmonary connection. Group B consisted of 24 healthy children/adolescents matched for gender, height, and weight. To analyze HRV parameters, all examinations included echocardiography and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram. Comparing all patients and controls, there were no significant differences in HRV parameters. Analyzing subgroups of patients younger than 10 years old, two of the HRV parameters were significantly different compared to controls. For the group of patients older than 10 years, eight of the HRV parameters were significantly reduced. Most significant differences were found regarding low-frequency range (p < 0.008) and high-frequency range p < 0.008. This study confirms the finding of earlier studies that patients with Fontan circulation have a reduced HRV, and our findings indicate that there is a progressive reduction of HRV over time.     

Outcomes of liver transplantation in pediatric recipients with cardiovascular disease

LT exerts considerable stress on the heart perioperatively. Limited data exist on impact of cardiovascular diseases on LT children. This study evaluated the outcomes of children with CVD who underwent LT and compared with pretransplant findings. From 518 LT recipients, 82 (15.8%) had CVD. Sixty patients were classified as low‐risk adjustment for congenital heart surgery 1 (RACHS 1 and 2). Five patients were classified as RACHS ≥3. The most common echocardiographic finding in the CVD patients (25/82) was ASD. CVD patients had more abnormal EKG (32.4% vs 14.5%, P < .001), abnormal chest X‐ray (11.8% vs 1.4%, P < .001), and altered echocardiography (89.7% vs 15.4%, P < .001) findings compared with the No‐CVD group pretransplant. Post‐transplant, significant differences between groups were observed related to abnormal EKG (14.7% vs 7.0%, P = .03) and echocardiography (48.5% vs 3.2%, P < .01) findings. Pretransplant ASD spontaneously closed in 22 patients. At 1 and 5 years post‐transplant, there was no difference in the survival rate between groups (P = .96). The prevalence of CVD in recipients of LT was high, and its presence was associated with significantly higher cardiac decompensation before and after LT. Minor and moderate cardiovascular disease did not impact the long‐term survival.     

正常儿童动态心电图窦性心率及心率变异分析

目的探讨正常儿童心率及心率变异性(HRV)特点。方法对804例正常儿童进行24h全程动态心电图检查,分析心率及HRV。结果不同年龄儿童窦性心率范围不同,年龄越小心率越快;儿童不同性别间HRV中24h内全部正常心动周期的标准差(SDNN)、24h内每5minNN间期标准差的平均值(SDNNindex)、NN50占所有N-N间期个数的百分数(PNN50)、极低频率(VLF)、低频(LF)差异有显著性;儿童不同年龄组间24h内5min节段平均心动周期的标准差(SDANN)、VLF、LF、全程相邻NN间期之间的均方根值(rMSSD)差异有显著性;儿童组与成人正常参考值中SDNN、SDANN、rMSSD差异有显著性,rMSSD儿童组中明显高于成人组。结论HRV是一种反映自主神经活性及其平衡的能定量、可重复的非侵入性的检测方法,是自主神经系统与心血管系统相互制约的结果。不同年龄、不同性别间儿童HRV存在显著差异;儿童组与成人参考值存在显著差异,尤其rMSSD儿童明显高于成人,提示儿童的自主神经功能较成人活跃,而随着年龄增长自主神经功能减退,尤其是迷走神经的紧张抑制功能明显减退。     

Assessment of cardiac autonomic function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy using short term heart rate variability measures

BackgroundDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a hereditary neuromuscular disorder frequently associated with progressive cardiac dysfunction, and is one of the common causes of death in these children. Early diagnostic markers of cardiac involvement might help in timely intervention. In this study we compared the short term HRV measures of DMD children with that of healthy subjects.MethodOne hundred and twenty-four genetically confirmed boys with DMD and 50 age matched controls were recruited. Error-free, electrocardiogram was recorded in all subjects at rest in the supine position. HRV parameters were computed in time and frequency domains. Time domain measures included standard deviation of NN interval (SDNN), and root of square mean of successive NN interval (RMSSD). Frequency domain consisted of total, low frequency and high frequency power values. Ratio of low frequency and high frequency power values (LF/HF) was determined using customized software.ResultsHRV parameters were significantly altered in DMD children as compared to healthy controls. Following parameters [mean (SD)] were reduced in DMD as compared to controls; RMSSD (in ms) [52.14 (33.2) vs 64.64 (43.2); p = 0.038], High frequency component (nu) [38.77 (14.4) vs 48.02 (17.1); p = 0.001] suggesting a loss of vagal tone. In contrast, measure of sympathovagal balance LF/HF [1.18 (0.87) vs 0.89 (0.79); p = 0.020] was increased in DMD group.ConclusionIn this cross sectional study we have demonstrated alteration in autonomic tone in DMD. Loss of vagal tone and an increase in sympathetic tone were observed in DMD children. Further prospective studies are required to confirm the utility of these measures as predictors of adverse cardiac outcome in DMD.     

Heart rate variability and cardiovascular tests in young patients with diabetes mellitus type 1

The aim of this study was to obtain information about parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) in three frequency bands (high frequency - HF, low frequency - LF and very low frequency - VLF), the sensitivity of cardiovascular tests, and subjective feelings depending on autonomic nervous system balance in a group of young patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 (IDDM). Sixty-four subjects were examined: 32 patients with diabetes with a mean age of 16.1 +/- 0.7 years and a mean duration of IDDM of 6.3 +/- 0.8 years, and 32 healthy controls matched for age, sex and BMI. Shorter R-R intervals and abnormal values reflecting HRV were found in the diabetic group. In particular, parameters of total power, and HF and LF bands were reduced. The ratio VLF/HF power revealed predominance of sympathetic tone in the diabetic subjects. Although relative power VLF was increased in the supine position, the reactive rise of the VLF band activity in orthostasis was lower in the IDDM group. Using cardiovascular tests (deep breathing, Valsalva, orthostasis), significant differences in reactions were found only in the deep breathing test. Evaluation of sympathetic:parasympathetic:indifferent subjective feelings by questionnaire did not reveal any differences between the diabetic and healthy groups.     

重型β-地中海贫血患儿心率变异性的分析

目的：该研究通过对重型β-地中海贫血（β-TM）患儿心率变异性（HRV）的变化特点的研究,探讨HRV对β-TM患儿心功能异常的诊断价值。方法：对21例β-TM患儿（地贫组）和15例正常儿童（对照组）分别进行24 h动态心电图（Holter）检查,比较分析两组HRV时域和频域指标的变化及β-TM患儿血清铁蛋白水平与HRV的相关性。结果：地贫组患儿HRV时域指标SDNN、rMSSD、pNN50 和频域指标极低频谱（VLF）、低频谱（LF）、高频谱（HF）均降低,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;血清铁蛋白水平与HRV的变化无相关性。结论：β-TM患儿自主神经功能异常;HRV对β-TM患儿早期心功能异常有预测价值。     

Dynamic analysis of beat-to-beat fetal heart rate variability recorded by SQUID magnetometer: quantification of sympatho-vagal balance

BACKGROUND: Quantitative analysis of fetal heart rate variability (HRV) can be used to investigate the neural control mechanisms of fetal cardiac activity. However, conventional power spectrum methods do not reveal the full complexity of the time-varying sympatho-vagal balance in the fetus. AIM: This study was carried out to explore alternative digital signal processing methods of analysing fetal HRV in time domain (rather than frequency domain), in line with most types of physiological monitoring. METHODS: The beat-to-beat fetal heart rate was obtained by Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetocardiographic recording. These data were filtered within appropriately selected frequency bands: high frequency (HF) f>0.2 Hz, low frequency (LF) 0.05相似文献   

The Fontan Patient: Inconsistencies in Medication Therapy Across Seven Pediatric Heart Network Centers

Patients who have undergone the Fontan procedure are at risk for thrombosis, ventricular dysfunction, and valve regurgitation, but data to guide the medical treatment and prevention of these adverse outcomes in this population are lacking. This analysis examined medication usage among Fontan patients by putative indication and by study center. The medical history and current medications of 546 Fontan subjects, ages 6–18 years, were assessed in a Pediatric Heart Network multicenter cross-sectional study. Cardiac imaging was performed within 3 months of enrollment. The majority of the subjects (64%) were taking two or more medications. Antithrombotics were taken by 86% of those with a history of stroke, thrombosis, or both and 67% of those without such a history (P = 0.01). Conversely, 14% of those with a history of stroke, thrombosis, or both were taking no antithrombotic. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) therapy was independently associated with moderate or severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation (P = 0.004), right ventricular morphology (P < 0.001), and shorter time since Fontan (P = 0.004) but not with ventricular systolic dysfunction. Glycoside therapy and diuretic therapy each was associated with older age at Fontan (P = 0.001 and P = 0.023, respectively) and a history of post-Fontan arrhythmia (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively) but not with ventricular systolic dysfunction. Medication use rates varied widely among the centers, even with controls for center differences in patient characteristics. Prospective therapeutic trials are needed to guide the medical treatment of Fontan patients.     

Pulmonary complications after liver transplantation in children: risk factors and impact on early post‐operative morbidity

Liver transplantation (LT) is associated with high post‐operative morbidity, despite excellent survival rates. With this retrospective study, we report the incidence of early and late pulmonary complications (PC) after LT, identify modifiable risk factors for PC and analyzed the role of PC in post‐operative ventilation duration and hospital length of stay. In a series of 79 children (0‐16 years) with LT over a 12 years period, early (<3 months post‐LT) and/or late (>3 months post‐LT) PC occurred in 68 patients (86%). Sixty‐four percent (64%) developed early major complications such as pulmonary edema, atelectasis, or pleural effusion. Atelectasis requiring an intervention (P ≤ .02), pulmonary edema (P ≤ .02), or elevated PELD/MELD scores (P = .05) were associated with an increase in total ventilation duration and length of stay in the ICU. Risk factors for early PC included preoperative hypoxemia (P = .005), low serum albumin at LT admission (P = .003), or early rejection (P = .002). About 20% of patients experienced late PC of which 81% were infections. Risk factor assessment prior to LT may ultimately help reduce early PC thereby possibly minimizing post‐operative morbidity and ICU length of stay.     

Peak Circulatory Power as an Indicator of Clinical Status in Children After Fontan Procedure

Peak circulatory power (CircP), a product of peak exercise oxygen uptake (VO₂) and peak mean or systolic arterial blood pressure, has proved to be a strong predictor of poor outcome in adults with congenital heart disease. This study sought to compare CircP with other cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) test variables and to assess whether CircP is superior in categorizing patients into well-functioning vs. poorly functioning at-risk groups in the pediatric population after a Fontan procedure. The CPX test reports of 50 patients were retrospectively reviewed after the Fontan procedure. The patients were divided into two groups. The well-functioning group included patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes 1 and 2 (n = 36). The poorly functioning at-risk group included patients in NYHA classes 3 and 4 and those with significant indicators or outcomes of a poor prognosis (n = 14). The patients in the well-functioning group had significantly higher CircP values based on mean blood pressure (MBP) (P < 0.001), higher CircP values based on systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P < 0.001), and higher peak VO₂ (P = 0.004) than those in the poorly functioning at-risk group. At a cutoff value less than 2100.4 mmHg/mlO₂/kg/min, CircP MBP had a sensitivity of 85% in categorizing children to the poorly functioning at-risk group. CircP correlated well with the clinical status of our patients. CircP and peak VO₂ did not differ significantly in ability to identify poorly functioning patients. Further prospective analysis is needed to assess whether CircP can serve as a prognostic marker for the pediatric population after Fontan procedure.     

小儿扩张型心肌病心率变异性分析

目的分析扩张型心肌病(DCM)儿童的心率变异性(HRV)。方法DCM儿童23例(研究组),匹配健康儿童23例为对照(对照组)。采用康泰TLC3000A12通道动态心电图(EKG)分析系统描记24hEKG,分析心率、HRV的时域指标和频域指标。应用SPSS11.0软件进行统计学处理。结果与对照组比较,研究组最低心率明显增高(P<0.05),最高心率稍增高(P>0.05);HRV时域指标SDNN、SDANN、pNN50明显降低(P<0.05),rMSSD稍降低(P>0.05);HRV频域指标TP、ULF明显降低(P<0.05),VLF、LF、HF、LF/HF稍增高(P>0.05)。结论DCM儿童自主神经功能明显受损。     

Heart rate variability in diabetic children: Sensitivity of the time- and frequency-domain methods

Summary Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive index of the neural activity of the heart. Although also influenced by the sympathetic activity of the heart, HRV is essentially determined by the vagal stimulation of the heart. Several HRV abnormalities have been described in adults with diabetes mellitus. However, there are few data on HRV in children with diabetes mellitus. In the present study, HRV was assessed in seven healthy children, 10 diabetic children with good glycemic control and 11 diabetic children with poor glycemic control. All had normal standard cardiac autonomic function tests, obtained from 24-h Holter tapes. HRV was measured by calculating six time-domain (mean R-R interval (RR), standard deviation of the R-R interval [SDRR], standard deviation of the mean of 288 R-R intervals [SDANN], the mean of the 288 standard deviations computed for each 5-min period [SD], percentage of differences of adjacent R-R intervals of >50 msec for the entire 24 h [pNN50], and the root mean square of successive differences [rMSSD]) and four frequency-domain (low frequency [LF], high frequency [HF], total heart rate power spectra, and LF/HF ratio) indexes. SD, pNN50, rMSSD, LF, HF and total heart rate power spectra were markedly and significantly reduced in diabetic children with poor metabolic control. The 24-h variation of low- and high-frequency components of heart rate power spectra of the latter children had a differet shape. Thus, diabetic children with poor metabolic control (elevated HbA₁c and B₂M levels) have a low HRV compared to those diabetic children with good control and healthy chidren. These results can be interpreted as evidence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in diabetic children with asymptomatic diabetic autonomic neuropathy.     

Autoregressive analysis of cardiac RR intervals in preterm and full-term infants

For the purpose of obtaining information on the maturation process of the autonomic nervous system in pre- and full-term infants, polygraphs were recorded during sleep from a total of 52 appropriate-for-dates infants at a conceptional age of 28–41 weeks. The 104 RR interval time series was calculated by auto-regressive (AR) and component analysis. Histograms of damping frequencies obtained were divided into two frequency bands: low frequency fluctuations (LF) of less the 0.1 cycle/beat (c/b) and high frequency fluctuations (HF) of more than 0.15 c/b. Total power and LF power decreased with increases in the conceptional age or postnatal age at a significance level of 0.01, respectively. In addition, the HF amount of bio-informing activity increased (P< 0.001) and the damping time of HF also increased (P <0.01). From these results, it was speculated that the activity of the sympathetic system decreases with increases in conceptional or postnatal age. It was also speculated that increased regularity and oscillatory duration in HF might be caused by the development of the reciprocal response of respiration to heart rate variation.     

The development of autonomic cardiovascular control is altered by preterm birth

Objectives

Autonomic dysfunction, either sympathetic or parasympathetic, may explain the increased incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) among preterm infants, as well as their subsequent heightened risk of hypertension in adulthood. As little is known about the development of autonomic function in preterm infants, we contrasted autonomic cardiovascular control across the first 6 months after term-corrected age (CA) in preterm and term infants.

Study design

Preterm (n = 25) and age matched term infants (n = 31) were studied at 2–4 weeks, 2–3 months and 5–6 months CA using daytime polysomnography. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured during quiet (QS) and active (AS) sleep. Autonomic control was assessed using spectral indices of blood pressure and heart rate variability (BPV and HRV) in ranges of low frequency (LF, reflecting sympathetic + parasympathetic activity), high frequency (HF, respiratory-mediated changes + parasympathetic activity), and LF/HF ratio (sympatho-vagal balance).

Results

In preterm infants, HF HRV increased, LF/HF HRV decreased and LF BPV decreased with age (p < 0.05); these changes were most evident in AS. Compared to term infants, preterm infants in QS exhibited lower LF, HF and total HRV at 5–6 months; higher HF BPV at all ages; and lower LF BPV at 2–4 weeks (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

With maturation, in preterm infants, parasympathetic modulation of the heart increases while sympathetic modulation of blood pressure decreases. Compared to term infants, preterm infants exhibit lesser parasympathetic modulation of the heart along with greater respiratory-mediated changes and lower sympathetic modulation of blood pressure. Impaired autonomic control in preterm infants may increase their risk of cardiovascular dysfunction later in life.     

Comparison of inhospital outcomes of pediatric heart transplantation between single ventricle congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathy

Data investigating the impact of household income and other factors on SV patient status‐post‐Fontan palliation after heart transplantation are lacking. We aim to evaluate factors affecting outcomes after OHT in this population. The PHIS database was interrogated for either SV or myocarditis/primary CM who were 4 years or older who underwent a single OHT. There were 1599 patients with a median age of 13.2 years (IQR: 9.3‐16.1). Total hospital costs were significantly higher in the SV group ($408 000 vs $294 000, P < 0.0001), but as median household income increased, the risk of inhospital mortality, post‐transplant LOS, and LOS‐adjusted total hospital costs all decreased. The risk of inhospital mortality increased 6.5% per 1 year of age increase at the time of transplant. Patients in the SV group had significantly more diagnoses than those in the CM group (21 vs 15, P < 0.0001) and had longer total hospital LOSs as a result of longer post‐transplant courses (25 days vs 15, P < 0.0001). Increased median household income and younger age are associated with decreased resource utilization and improved inhospital mortality in SV CHD patients who undergo OHT. In conclusion, earlier consideration of OHT in this population, coupled with improved selection criteria, may increase survival in this population.     

Effects of regional brain injury on the newborn autonomic nervous system

ObjectiveCerebral mapping of central autonomic nervous system (ANS)¹ function in mature animals and humans lateralizes sympathetic and parasympathetic influence predominantly to the right and left cerebral hemispheres, respectively. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV)² is an established measure of ANS function. We examined whether such lateralization is present in the term newborn.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed records of infants > 36 weeks of gestation diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).³ We included infants with neonatal EEG and regional injury on brain MRI, which was scored using a schema. We extracted ECG signals from the EEG recording, but excluded periods of electrographic seizure activity to eliminate possible seizure influence on HRV. HRV was evaluated by spectral analysis in the high frequency (HF⁴; 0.3–1 Hz) and low frequency (LF⁵; 0.05–0.25 Hz) ranges, and the LF/HF ratio was examined to assess sympatho-vagal balance. The relation between the injured brain regions and HRV was studied using multiple linear regression models.ResultsWe studied 40 neonates with HIE. Injury to the right cerebral cortex (p = 0.009) and right cerebellum (p = 0.041) predicted a decreased LF/HF ratio. Injury to the left cerebral cortex (p = 0.035) and left cerebellum (p = 0.041) was associated with an increased LF/HF ratio. The association between brain injury location and the individual LF or HF spectral powers of brain injury did not reach significance.ConclusionsOur data suggest that a functional lateralization for cerebral autonomic influence is established by term gestation.