Front Neurol. 2026 Oct 22;17:1712487. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1712487. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish reference ranges for the disturbance coefficient (DC) and edema coefficient (EC) in neonates without traumatic brain injury, based on head circumference, weight, and body length, to provide early warnings for neonatal brain injury.
METHODS: Neonates were collected from the rooming-in unit of Northern Theater Command General Hospital, China, between June and December 2024. The non-invasive cerebral edema dynamic monitor was used to measure DC and EC at 24, 48, and 72 h after birth. Correlations between DC, EC and clinical parameters (head circumference, weight, body length, sex, gestational age, and mode of delivery) were analyzed statistical methods, including Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman’s correlation test, and Mann-Whitney test.
RESULTS: Totally 150 neonates with a gestational age of over 36 weeks were recruited, the median gestational age was 38.4 weeks, with 73 male (48.7%). And the predominant mode of delivery was cesarean section (82.7%). The median (interquartile range, IQR) DC increased significantly from 33.40 (28.45-41.60) at 0-1 day to 39.50 (32.58-46.20) at 1-2 days and 41.65 (35.30-46.90) at 2-3 days after birth, while EC decreased from 16.20 (9.88-20.38) to 10.95 (5.58-16.90) and 9.45 (5.20-14.73), respectively. DC was positively correlated with head circumference (r = 0.485, P < 0.001), weight (r = 0.499, P < 0.001), and body length (r = 0.427, P < 0.001), while EC was negatively correlated with these parameters (head circumference: r = -0.480, P < 0.001; weight: r = -0.492, P < 0.001; body length: r = -0.423, P < 0.001). No significant correlations were found between DC, EC and sex, gestational age, or mode of delivery.
CONCLUSIONS: In neonates over 36 weeks, DC significantly increased from 0-1 day to 1-2 and 2-3 days after birth, while EC decreased. DC showed a positive correlation with head circumference, weight, and body length, while EC exhibited a negative correlation. DC and EC were not affected by sex, mode of delivery, and gestational age.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: identifier: ChiCTR2500095381.
PMID:42991339 | PMC:PMC13735614 | DOI:10.3389/fneur.2026.1712487
