NIRS Monitoring in Premature Infants

March 16, 2026 updated by: Pei-Yi Lin, Boston Children's Hospital

Beside Monitor of Cerebral Metabolism in Premature Infants With Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus

This study uses frequency domain near-infrared spectroscopy coupled with diffuse correlation spectroscopy (FDNIRS-DCS) technology for monitoring cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral oxygen metabolism (CMRO2) at the bedside for newborns with germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GM-IVH) and/or post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) in comparison to newborns with hydrocephalus of a different etiology (VC) and healthy controls (HC). We hypothesize that baseline cerebral metabolic dysfunction is a better biomarker for GM-IVH and PHH severity and response to PHH treatment.

This is a Boston Children's Hospital (BCH)-institutional review board(IRB) approved, multi-site study that includes collaboration with Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). Pei-Yi Lin receives funding from The National Institute of Health (NIH) to support the study and is the overall principal Investigator (PI) overseeing the study.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Introduction and specific aims:

Germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GM-IVH) occurs in 45% of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) premature infants, often leading to long-term neurodevelopmental impairments (NDI). Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) is a common complication of GM-IVH and increases the risk of major NDI to 75-90%. Currently, the only bedside tool to assess for hemorrhage and monitor for secondary hydrocephalus is ultrasound. Although increasing ventricular size is currently used to determine need for intervention, measures based on cerebral physiology are needed to better determine the impact of the expanding ventricles on individual cerebral metabolism.

Our group has developed advanced FDNIRS-DCS technology for monitoring cerebral oxygen metabolism (CMRO2) in newborns at the bedside. We hypothesize that baseline and evoked cerebral metabolic dysfunctions are better biomarkers for GM-IVH and PHH severity and response to PHH treatment. To test our hypotheses, we will address the following specific aims:

Aim 1: Determine post-natal cerebral hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism trajectories in GM-IVH and PHH neonates with respect to normal controls and differences between PHH infants and infants affected by hydrocephalus due to other pathologies.

We hypothesize that:

  1. Infants with GM-IVH have lower CBF and CMRO2 than healthy controls and the decrease is in proportion to the severity of GM-IVH. (GM-IVH vs HC)
  2. Infants with PHH have lower CBF and CMRO2 than healthy controls. (PHH vs HC)
  3. For infants who developed PHH, the decrease of CBF and CMRO2 is affected by both hemorrhages and the severity of hydrocephalus. (PHH vs VC)

Aim 2: Test the efficacy of cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism in detecting hydrocephalus treatment response in both PHH and VC groups.

We hypothesize that CBF and CMRO2 increase in response to treatment-associated improvements in hydrocephalus but remain depressed when response to treatment is inadequate.

Aim 3: Test the sensitivity of FDNIRS-DCS measured cerebral hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism in predicting developmental outcomes in infants with GM-IVH and PHH. We will assess neurodevelopmental outcomes in all enrolled infants at 5-7, 10-12, and 22-24 months corrected age and correlate with FDNIRS-DCS measurements of CBF and CMRO2, and related quantities with neurodevelopmental outcomes at approximately 5-7, 10-12, and 22-24 months corrected age.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
70

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
        • Active, not recruiting
        • Brigham and Women's Hospital
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
        • Active, not recruiting
        • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

1 second to 1 year (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The subject population will include premature and full-term neonates that fit criteria for one of the GM-IVH, PHH, HC, or VC groups.

Description

  1. GM-IVH group:

    Inclusion criteria for GM-IVH group: born at gestational age (GA) 24-32 weeks; < 3 months old corrected-GA (cGA) at first measure or eligible for measurement within 12 weeks after the infant reaches 40 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA). Grade I-III IVH diagnosed by clinical cranial ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

    Exclusion criteria for GM-IVH group: chromosomal abnormalities known at the time of enrollment; known or suspected metabolic disorder or neoplasm; critical congenital heart disease; congenital hydrocephalus; brain lesions that affect cerebral brain metabolism, other than GMH-IVH; central nervous system (CNS) infection.

  2. PHH group:

    Inclusion criteria for PHH group: born at gestational age (GA) 24-37 weeks < 3 months old cGA at first measure or eligible for measurement within 12 weeks after the infant reaches 40 weeks age (PMA). PHH diagnosed by clinical cranial ultrasound or MRI.

    Exclusion criteria for PHH group: chromosomal abnormalities known at the time of enrollment; known or suspected metabolic disorder or neoplasm; critical congenital heart disease; congenital hydrocephalus; brain lesions that affect cerebral brain metabolism, other than IVH-PHH; CNS infection. Implanted devices or other devices that preclude the use of MRI.

  3. HC group:

    Inclusion criteria for HC group: born at gestational age (GA) 24-32 weeks; < 3 months old cGA at first measure or eligible for measurement within 12 weeks after the infant reaches 40 weeks age (PMA); Apgar >7 at 5 min.

    Exclusion criteria for HC group: any clinical indication of brain injury or congenital brain malformation; chromosomal abnormality known at the time of enrollment; known or suspected metabolic disorder or neoplasm; critical congenital heart disease; CNS infection.

  4. VC group:

Inclusion criteria for VC group: < 12 months old cGA at first measure or eligible for measurement within 1 year after the infant reaches 40 weeks age (PMA). Symptomatic hydrocephalus of any etiology or at high risk of developing hydrocephalus of any etiology, except post-hemorrhagic etiology; characterized by abnormal rate of head growth and full anterior fontanelle. Ventricular enlargement diagnosed by ultrasonography or MRI; no signs of IVH.

Exclusion criteria for VC group: known or suspected metabolic disorder or neoplasm; critical congenital heart disease; CNS infection. Implanted devices or other devices that preclude the use of MRI.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
GM-IVH
Premature infants who developed germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage. FDNIRS-DCS measures will be performed up to once a day if clinically feasible.
Posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH)

Premature infants with complications of hydrocephalus secondary to intraventricular hemorrhage and have the potential to receive endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) with choroid plexus cauterization (CPC) and/or ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting for clinical treatment.

FDNIRS-DCS measures will be performed up to once a day if clinically feasible. Additional FDNIRS-DCS measures will be performed on the day of hydrocephalus treatment to monitor the treatment response if clinically feasible. These additional measures are limited to up to four times a day.
Procedure: ETV/CPC
endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) combined with choroid plexus cauterization (CPC) is a surgical procedure to treat infant hydrocephalus
Healthy Control (HC)
Premature infants without diagnosed brain injuries. FDNIRS-DCS measures will be performed up to once a day if clinically feasible.
Ventriculomegaly Control (VC)

Infants who have symptomatic hydrocephalus of any etiology except post-hemorrhagic etiology and have the potential to receive ETV/CPC and/or VP shunting for clinical treatment.

FDNIRS-DCS measures will be performed up to once a day if clinically feasible. Additional FDNIRS-DCS measures will be performed on the day of hydrocephalus treatment to monitor the treatment response if clinically feasible. These additional measures are limited to up to four times a day.
Procedure: ETV/CPC
endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) combined with choroid plexus cauterization (CPC) is a surgical procedure to treat infant hydrocephalus

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
CMRO2
Time Frame: 0-2 years old
The primary outcomes are FDNIRS-DCS-measured CMRO2 trajectory.
0-2 years old

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Boston Children's Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Pei-Yi Lin, PhD, Boston Children's Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 6, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 6, 2015

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 10, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 16, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2014P001713
  • 1K99HD083512-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • P00014042 (Other Identifier: Boston Children's Hospital)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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