To analyze the craniocerebrum ultrasonographic images of the infants born by women with hypertension in pregnancy and investigate the effect of hypertension in pregnancy on neonate brain injury and brain development.

To assess the brain injury and brain development, 106 infants born by women with hypertension in pregnancy (study group) and 200 infants born by women without high risk factors during perinatal period (control group) in the neonatal intensive care unit of First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between 2013 and 2014 underwent brain ultrasonography. The abnormal ultrasound images and the constitution of abnormal ultrasound images distribution in two groups were compared. The relationship between the abnormal ultrasound images and the degree of hypertension in pregnancy were analyzed.

The brain ultrasonographic result of the infants : (1) In the group with hypertension in pregnancy, the abnormal ultrasound images were found in 78 cases (73.6%). For the preterm infants, the solitary abnormality was found in 41 cases (25 cases of cerebral white matter injury, 14 cases of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage and 2 case of brain hypoevolutism) and multiple abnormalities were found in 15 cases; for the full-term infants, the solitary abnormality was found in 17 cases (12 cases of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage, 3 cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and 2 case of brain hypoevolutism) and multiple abnormalities were found in 5 cases. (2) In the group without high risk factors, abnormalities were found in 73 cases (36.5 %). For the preterm infants, abnormal ultrasound images were found in 45 cases, including solitary abnormality found in 30 cases (24 cases of cerebral white matter injury, 4 cases of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage and 2 case of brain hypoevolutism) and multiple abnormalities found in 15 cases; for the full-term infants, the abnormal ultrasound images were found in 30 cases, including solitary abnormality found in 24 cases (10 cases of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage and 14 cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy) and multiple abnormalities found in 6 cases. (3) There were obvious statistical significances between the comparativeness of two groups (χ²=38.119, P<0.001), but there were no statistical significances in the constitution of the abnormal ultrasound images distribution between the two groups (χ²=0.552, P=0.759). (4) There were statistical significances between the comparativeness of the abnormal ultrasound images and the degree of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (P<0.001).

Craniocerebrum ultrasonography is the first choice to detect and monitor brain abnormal and can provide basis for clinical diagnosis, treatment and intervention at early stage for the infants born by women with hypertension in pregnancy.