Abstract:Objective To study the background patterns and sleep-wake cycles (SWC) on amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in preterm infants with different grades of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH). Methods Fifty-six preterm infants with a gestational age between 25 and 33 weeks who were diagnosed with PIVH and 31 gestational age-matched normal preterm without ICH were enrolled. According to Papile staging criteria, the infants with PIVH were subdivided into mild group (grades I and II) and moderate-severe group (grades III and IV). The results of the aEEG were compared between groups. Results The moderate-severe PIVH group showed a decreased continuity of the voltage, an increased loss rate of SWC, and a lower aEEG score than the mild PIVH and control groups (P < 0.017). There were no significant differences in these parameters between the mild PIVH and control groups. Conclusions The changes of background patterns and SWCs may be associated with the severity of PIVH in preterm infants.