Department of Pediatrics

Clinical Interests

My clinical interests in Neonatology are focused on improving neurodevelopmental outcomes of both premature and term neonates with encephalopathy. As the Medical Director of the NICU at St. Louis Children's Hospital I am the physician lead for the NICU Unit Based Joint Practice Committee and I oversee all aspects of clinical care with specific emphasis on developing multidisciplinary clinical consensus guidelines and enhancing a team-based approach to clinical care. I have developed NICU collaboratives with Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Surgery that meet regularly and these form the infrastructure in developing clinical care practices across disciplines for neonates anywhere in the hospital. I am also leading the deployment of LEAN methodology and the Daily Management System in the NICU in streamlining physician workflow, introducing and sustaining standard-work, and reducing/eliminating inefficiencies in health care delivery with an enhanced focus on patient care quality and safety.
My research interests involve understanding transitional physiology in the newborn and understanding mechanisms of brain injury and neuroprotection. I lead the Neonatal Neurology and Physiology Laboratory group integrated into the Patient Oriented Research Unit in the Department of Pediatrics. My laboratory includes Neonatology and Pediatric Neurology faculty and four fellows in the Division of Newborn Medicine alongside research staff. I am the site principal investigator for the High Dose Erythropoietin for Asphyxia and Encephalopathy (HEAL) trial (Wu-PI, UCSF), a multi-center, NINDS funded, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial. I am also the co-PI of the neuroimaging core for this trial scoring MRI scans for injury using a scoring tool developed at Washington University.

Education

• BS, Hansraj College, Delhi University, 1976
• MBBS, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi University, 1982
• MD, SN Medical College , 1986
• MRCPCH, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1991

Training

• Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine, 1994 - 1997
• Resident, St. Louis Children's Hospital, 1997 - 1998
• Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine, 1998 - 1998

Licensure and Board Certification

• 1982Medical Council of India
• 1991General Medical Council, UK
• 1991M.R.C.P (UK) Pediatrics
• 1998 - PresMO, Healing Arts
• 1999 - PresMO, Pediatrics Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

Honors and Awards

• The Amy Anderson Fellow Prize in Neonatology, 1996
• Lecturer of the month, 2015

Recent Publications view all (70)

Publication Co-Authors

Siddharth Jain

David Van Essen

Christopher McPherson

Nathalie El Ters

Philip Levy, M.D.

W. Todd Cade, PT, PhD

Barbara B. Warner, M.D., MSc

Zachary A. Vesoulis, MD MSCI

Gillian C. Pet, MD, MSCI

Alexis M. Elward, M.D., M.P.H.

Rakesh Rao, M.D.

Steve M. Liao, M.D., MSCI

Halana Whitehead, MD

Neeta Vachharajani

Tasnim A. Najaf, M.D.

Washington University has a long tradition of collaboration amongst colleagues.The faculty above have co-authored publications with Amit M Mathur, M.D., M.R.C.P.

1. Han RH, McKinnon A, CreveCoeur TS, Baksh BS, Mathur AM, Smyser CD, Strahle JM, Olsen MA, Limbrick DD Jr. Predictors of mortality for preterm infants with intraventricular hemorrhage: a population-based study. Childs Nerv Syst. 2018. PMID:29987373 
2. Whitehead HV, Vesoulis ZA, Maheshwari A, Rao R, Mathur AM. Anemia of prematurity and cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy: should transfusion thresholds in preterm infants be revised? J Perinatol. 2018. PMID:29740185 
3. El Ters NM, Vesoulis ZA, Liao SM, Smyser CD, Mathur AM.. Term-equivalent functional brain maturational measures predict neurodevelopmental outcomes in premature infants. Early Hum Dev. 2018;(119):68-72. PMID:29579560 
4. El Ters NM, Mathur AM, Jain S, Vesoulis ZA, Zempel JM. Long term electroencephalography in preterm neonates: Safety and quality of electrode types. Clin Neurophysiol. 2018;129(7):1366-1371. PMID:29729590 
5. Massaro AN, Wu YW, Bammler TK, Comstock B, Mathur A, McKinstry RC, Chang T, Mayock DE, Mulkey SB, Van Meurs K, Juul S.. Plasma Biomarkers of Brain Injury in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy. J Pediatr. 2018;(194):67-75. PMID:29478510 
6. Vesoulis ZA, Herco M, Mathur AM.. Divergent risk factors for cerebellar and intraventricular hemorrhage. J Perinatol.. 2017. doi:10.1038/s41372-017-0010-x  PMID:29242571  
7. Vesoulis ZA, Liao SM, Rao R, Trivedi SB, Cahill AG, Mathur AM.. Re-examining the arterial cord blood gas pH screening criteria in neonatal encephalopathy. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2017;(103):377-382. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2017-313078.  PMID:28942435 
8. Vesoulis ZA, Liao SM, Mathur AM.. Gestational age-dependent relationship between cerebral oxygen extraction and blood pressure. Pediatr Res. . 2017;(82(6)). doi:10.1038/pr.2017.196.  PMID:28902182  
9. Han RH, Berger D, Gabir M, Baksh BS, Morales DM, Mathur AM, Smyser CD, Strahle JM, Limbrick DD Jr.. Time-to-event analysis of surgically treated posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in preterm infants: a single-institution retrospective study. Childs Nerv Syst. 2017;(33(11)):1917-1926. doi:10.1007/s00381-017-3588-6.  PMID:28884229 
10. Mulkey SB, Ramakrishnaiah RH, McKinstry RC, Chang T, Mathur AM, Mayock DE, Van Meurs KP, Schaefer GB, Luo C, Bai S, Juul SE, Wu YW. Erythropoietin and Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: Volume of Acute Brain Injury and 1-Year Neurodevelopmental Outcome. J Pediatr. 2017;186:196-199. PMID:28456387 
11. Vesoulis ZA, Hao J, McPherson C, El Ters NM, Mathur AM. Low-frequency blood pressure oscillations and inotrope treatment failure in premature infants. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2017;123(1):55-61. PMID:28428252 
12. Trivedi SB, Vesoulis ZA, Rao R, Liao SM, Shimony JS, McKinstry RC, Mathur AM. A validated clinical MRI injury scoring system in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Pediatr Radiol. 2017. PMID:28623417 
13. Vesoulis ZA, Rao R, Trivedi SB, Mathur AM. The effect of therapeutic hypothermia on heart rate variability. J Perinatol. 2017;37(6):679-683. PMCID:PMC5446282  PMID:28383534 
14. Cahill AG, Mathur AM, Smyser CD, Mckinstry RC, Roehl KA, López JD, Inder TE, Macones GA. Neurologic Injury in Acidemic Term Infants. Am J Perinatol. 2017;34(7):668-675. PMID:27926973 
15. El Ters NM, Vesoulis ZA, Liao SM, Smyser CD, Mathur AM. Impact of brain injury on functional measures of amplitude-integrated EEG at term equivalent age in premature infants. J Perinatol. 2017. PMID:28492522 
16. Jain SV, Zempel JM, Srinivasakumar P, Wallendorf M, Mathur A. Early EEG power predicts MRI injury in infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. J Perinatol. 2017;37(5):541-546. PMID:28206999 
17. Cahill AG, Macones GA, Smyser CD, López JD, Inder TE, Mathur AM. Umbilical Artery Lactate Correlates with Brain Lactate in Term Infants. Am J Perinatol. 2017;34(6):535-540. PMID:27788532 
18. Vesoulis ZA, Rhoades J, Muniyandi P, Conner S, Cahill AG, Mathur AM. Delayed cord clamping and inotrope use in preterm infants. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2017;1-8. PMID:28372510 
19. Vesoulis ZA, Mathur AM. Cerebral Autoregulation, Brain Injury, and the Transitioning Premature Infant. Front Pediatr. 2017;5:64. PMCID:PMC5377300  PMID:28421173 
20. Vachharajani AJ, Vachharajani NA, Morris H, Niesen A, Elward A, Linck DA, Mathur AM. Reducing peripherally inserted central catheters in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Perinatol. 2017;37(4):409-413. PMID:28079867 
21. Rao R, Trivedi S, Vesoulis Z, Liao SM, Smyser CD, Mathur AM. Safety and Short-Term Outcomes of Therapeutic Hypothermia in Preterm Neonates 34-35 Weeks Gestational Age with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy. J Pediatr. 2017;183:37-42. PMCID:PMC5367984  PMID:27979578 
22. Pineda R, Durant P, Mathur A, Inder T, Wallendorf M, Schlaggar BL. Auditory Exposure in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Room Type and Other Predictors. J Pediatr. 2017;183:56-66.e3. PMCID:PMC5378448  PMID:28189301 
23. Jain SV, Mathur A, Srinivasakumar P, Wallendorf M, Culver JP, Zempel JM. Prediction of Neonatal Seizures in Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Using Electroencephalograph Power Analyses. Pediatr Neurol. 2017;67:64-70.e2. PMID:28062149 
24. Leadbetter KZ, Vesoulis ZA, White FV, Schmidt RE, Khanna G, Shimony JS, Mathur AM. The role of post-mortem MRI in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Perinatol. 2017;37(1):98-103. PMCID:PMC5215703  PMID:27654494 
25. Vesoulis ZA, McPherson C, Neil JJ, Mathur AM, Inder TE. Early High-Dose Caffeine Increases Seizure Burden in Extremely Preterm Neonates: A Preliminary Study. J Caffeine Res. 2016;6(3):101-107. PMCID:PMC5031091  PMID:27679737 
26. Wu YW, Mathur AM, Chang T, McKinstry RC, Mulkey SB, Mayock DE, Van Meurs KP, Rogers EE, Gonzalez FF, Comstock BA, Juul SE, Msall ME, Bonifacio SL, Glass HC, Massaro AN, Dong L, Tan KW, Heagerty PJ, Ballard RA. High-Dose Erythropoietin and Hypothermia for Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Phase II Trial. Pediatrics. 2016;137(6). PMID:27244862 
27. Vesoulis ZA, Ters NE, Foster A, Trivedi SB, Liao SM, Mathur AM. Response to dopamine in prematurity: a biomarker for brain injury? J Perinatol. 2016;36(6):453-8. PMCID:PMC4882223  PMID:26890555 
28. Massaro AN, Murthy K, Zaniletti I, Cook N, DiGeronimo R, Dizon ML, Hamrick SE, McKay VJ, Natarajan G, Rao R, Richardson T, Smith D, Mathur AM, Children's Hospital Neonatal Consortium. Intercenter Cost Variation for Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in the Era of Therapeutic Hypothermia. J Pediatr. 2016;173:76-83.e1. PMID:26995699 
29. Hannaford KE, Stout MJ, Smyser CD, Mathur A, Cahill AG. Evaluating the Sensitivity of Electronic Fetal Monitoring Patterns for the Prediction of Intraventricular Hemorrhage. Am J Perinatol. 2016. PMID:27182998 
30. Vesoulis ZA, Ters NE, Foster A, Trivedi SB, Liao SM, Mathur AM. Response to dopamine in prematurity: a biomarker for brain injury? J Perinatol. 2016;36(5):410. PMID:27109233 
31. Vesoulis ZA, El Ters NM, Wallendorf M, Mathur AM. Empirical estimation of the normative blood pressure in infants <28 weeks gestation using a massive data approach. J Perinatol. 2016;36(4):291-5. PMCID:PMC4808440  PMID:26633144 
32. Vesoulis ZA, Liao SM, Trivedi SB, Ters NE, Mathur AM. A novel method for assessing cerebral autoregulation in preterm infants using transfer function analysis. Pediatr Res. 2016;79(3):453-9. PMCID:PMC4821724  PMID:26571222 
33. Srinivasakumar P, Zempel J, Trivedi S, Wallendorf M, Rao R, Smith B, Inder T, Mathur AM. Treating EEG Seizures in Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Pediatrics. 2015;136(5):e1302-9. PMID:26482675 
34. Levy PT, Dioneda B, Holland MR, Sekarski TJ, Lee CK, Mathur A, Cade WT, Cahill AG, Hamvas A, Singh GK. Right ventricular function in preterm and term neonates: reference values for right ventricle areas and fractional area of change. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2015;28(5):559-69. doi:10.1016/j.echo.2015.01.024  PMID:25753503 
35. Massaro AN, Murthy K, Zaniletti I, Cook N, DiGeronimo R, Dizon M, Hamrick SE, McKay VJ, Natarajan G, Rao R, Smith D, Telesco R, Wadhawan R, Asselin JM, Durand DJ, Evans JR, Dykes F, Reber KM, Padula MA, Pallotto EK, Short BL, Mathur AM. Short-term outcomes after perinatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: a report from the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium HIE focus group. J Perinatol. 2015;35(4):290-296. doi:10.1038/jp.2014.190  PMID:25393081 
36. Vesoulis ZA, Paul RA, Mitchell TJ, Wong C, Inder TE, Mathur AM. Normative amplitude-integrated EEG measures in preterm infants. J Perinatol. 2014. doi:10.1038/jp.2014.225  PMID:25521561 
37. Liao SM, Rao R, Mathur AM. Head Position Change Is Not Associated with Acute Changes in Bilateral Cerebral Oxygenation in Stable Preterm Infants during the First 3 Days of Life. Am J Perinatol. 2014. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1390348  PMID:25282608 
38. Murthy K, Evans JR, Bhatia AM, Rothstein DH, Wadhawan R, Zaniletti I, Rao R, Thurm C, Mathur AM, Piazza AJ, Stein JE, Reber KM, Short BL, Padula MA, Durand DJ, Asselin JM, Pallotto EK, Dykes FD. The association of type of surgical closure on length of stay among infants with gastroschisis born≥34 weeks' gestation. J Pediatr Surg. 2014;49(8):1220-5. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2013.12.020  PMID:25092080 
39. Vesoulis ZA, Mathur AM. Advances in management of neonatal seizures. Indian J Pediatr. 2014. doi:10.1007/s12098-014-1457-9  PMID:24796413 
40. Vesoulis ZA, Inder TE, Woodward LJ, Buse B, Vavasseur C, Mathur AM. Early electrographic seizures, brain injury, and neurodevelopmental risk in the very preterm infant. Pediatr Res. 2014;75(4):564-9. doi:10.1038/pr.2013.245  PMCID:PMC3961524  PMID:24366515 
41. Reynolds LC, Pineda RG, Mathur A, Vavasseur C, Shah DK, Liao S, Inder T. Cerebral maturation on amplitude-integrated electroencephalography and perinatal exposures in preterm infants. Acta Paediatr. 2014;103(3):e96-e100. doi:10.1111/apa.12485  PMCID:PMC3945948  PMID:24354724 
42. Shah DK, Mathur A. Amplitude-integrated EEG and the newborn infant. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2014;10(1):11-5. PMID:25055859 
43. Pineda RG, Neil J, Dierker D, Smyser CD, Wallendorf M, Kidokoro H, Reynolds LC, Walker S, Rogers C, Mathur AM, Van Essen DC, Inder T. Alterations in brain structure and neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants hospitalized in different neonatal intensive care unit environments. J Pediatr. 2014;164(1):52-60.e2. PMCID:PMC3872171  PMID:24139564 
44. Reynolds LC, Duncan MM, Smith GC, Mathur A, Neil J, Inder T, Pineda RG. Parental presence and holding in the neonatal intensive care unit and associations with early neurobehavior. J Perinatol. 2013;33(8):636-41. doi:10.1038/jp.2013.4  PMCID:PMC3700586  PMID:23412640 
45. Srinivasakumar P, Zempel J, Wallendorf M, Lawrence R, Inder T, Mathur A. Therapeutic hypothermia in neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: electrographic seizures and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of injury. J Pediatr. 2013;163(2):465-70. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.01.041  PMID:23452588 
46. Herman TE, Siegel MJ, Mathur A, Vachharajani A. Neonatal marfan syndrome with hiatus hernia and intrathoracic stomach. J Perinatol. 2013;33(8):652-3. doi:10.1038/jp.2013.15  PMID:23897310 
47. Olsen SL, Dejonge M, Kline A, Liptsen E, Song D, Anderson B, Mathur A. Optimizing therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy. Pediatrics. 2013;131(2):e591-603. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-0891  PMID:23296428 
48. Bednarek N, Mathur A, Inder T, Wilkinson J, Neil J, Shimony J. Impact of therapeutic hypothermia on MRI diffusion changes in neonatal encephalopathy. Neurology. 2012;78(18):1420-7. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e318253d589  PMCID:PMC3345786  PMID:22517107 
49. Rao R, Bryowsky K, Mao J, Bunton D, McPherson C, Mathur A. Gastrointestinal complications associated with ibuprofen therapy for patent ductus arteriosus. J Perinatol. 2011;31(7):465-70. doi:10.1038/jp.2010.199  PMID:21252965 
50. Srinivasakumar P, Limbrick D, Munro R, Mercer D, Rao R, Inder T, Mathur A. Posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation-impact on early neurodevelopmental outcome. Am J Perinatol. 2011;30(3):207-14. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1323581  PMID:22898993 
51. Tao JD, Mathur AM. Using amplitude-integrated EEG in neonatal intensive care. J Perinatol. 2010;30 Suppl:S73-81. doi:10.1038/jp.2010.93  PMID:20877412 
52. Limbrick DD Jr, Mathur A, Johnston JM, Munro R, Sagar J, Inder T, Park TS, Leonard JL, Smyth MD. Neurosurgical treatment of progressive posthemorrhagic ventricular dilation in preterm infants: a 10-year single-institution study. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2010;6(3):224-30. doi:10.3171/2010.5.PEDS1010  PMID:20809705 
53. Odibo AO, Najaf T, Vachharajani A, Warner B, Mathur A, Warner BW. Predictors of the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a center's 10-year experience. Prenat Diagn. 2010;30(6):518-21. doi:10.1002/pd.2508  PMID:20509150 
54. Mathur AM, Neil JJ, Inder TE. Understanding brain injury and neurodevelopmental disabilities in the preterm infant: the evolving role of advanced magnetic resonance imaging. Semin Perinatol. 2010;34(1):57-66. PMCID:PMC2864915  PMID:20109973 
55. Lawrence R, Mathur A, Nguyen The Tich S, Zempel J, Inder T. A pilot study of continuous limited-channel aEEG in term infants with encephalopathy. J Pediatr. 2009;154(6):835-41.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.01.002  PMID:19230897 
56. Lawrence R, Inder TE, Mathur AM. Developing clinical trials for the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal seizures J. Pediatr. Neurol. . 2009;7(1):69-77. 
57. Vachharajani AJ, Rao R, Keswani S, Mathur AM. Outcomes of exomphalos: an institutional experience. Pediatr Surg Int. 2009;25(2):139-44. doi:10.1007/s00383-008-2301-y  PMID:19066916 
58. Mathur A, Inder T. Magnetic resonance imaging--insights into brain injury and outcomes in premature infants. J Commun Disord. 2009;42(4):248-55. doi:10.1016/j.jcomdis.2009.03.007  PMCID:PMC3553556  PMID:19406431 
59. Mathur AM, Morris LD, Teteh F, Inder TE, Zempel J. Utility of prolonged bedside amplitude-integrated encephalogram in encephalopathic infants. Am J Perinatol. 2008;25(10):611-5. doi:10.1055/s-0028-1090598  PMID:18841534 
60. Shah DK, Mackay MT, Lavery S, Watson S, Harvey AS, Zempel J, Mathur A, Inder TE. Accuracy of bedside electroencephalographic monitoring in comparison with simultaneous continuous conventional electroencephalography for seizure detection in term infants. Pediatrics. 2008;121(6):1146-54. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-1839  PMID:18519484 
61. Shah DK, Mackay MT, Lavery S, Watson S, Harvey AS, Zempel J, Mathur A, Inder TE. Accuracy of bedside electroencephalographic monitoring in comparison with simultaneous continuous conventional electroencephalography for seizure detection in term infants. Pediatrics. 2008;121(6):1146-54. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-1839  PMID:18519484 
62. Mathur AM, Neil JJ, McKinstry RC, Inder TE. Transport, monitoring, and successful brain MR imaging in unsedated neonates. Pediatr Radiol. 2008;38(3):260-4. doi:10.1007/s00247-007-0705-9  PMID:18175110 
63. Mathur AM, Smith JR, Donze A. Hypothermia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: guideline development using the best evidence. Neonatal Netw. 2008;27(4):271-86. doi:10.1891/0730-0832.27.4.271  PMID:18697657 
64. Vachharajani AJ, Dillon PA, Mathur AM. Outcomes in neonatal gastroschisis: an institutional experience. Am J Perinatol. 2007;24(8):461-5. PMID:17992713 
65. McKinstry RC, Mathur A, Miller JH, Ozcan A, Snyder AZ, Schefft GL, Almli CR, Shiran SI, Conturo TE, Neil JJ. Radial organization of developing preterm human cerebral cortex revealed by non-invasive water diffusion anisotropy MRI. Cereb Cortex. 2002;12(12):1237-43. PMID:12427675 
66. Vachharajani A, Mathur A. Ultrasound-guided needle aspiration of cranial epidural hematoma in a neonate: treating a rare complication of vacuum extraction. Am J Perinatol. 2002;19(8):401-4. doi:10.1055/s-2002-36837  PMID:12541211 
67. McKinstry RC, Miller JH, Snyder AZ, Mathur A, Schefft GL, Almli CR, Shimony JS, Shiran SI, Neil JJ. A prospective, longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging study of brain injury in newborns. Neurology. 2002;59(6):824-33. PMID:12297561 
68. Stika CS, Gross GA, Leguizamon G, Gerber S, Levy R, Mathur A, Bernhard LM, Nelson DM, Sadovsky Y. A prospective randomized safety trial of celecoxib for treatment of preterm labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002;187(3):653-60. PMID:12237643 
69. Mathur A, Sims HF, Gopalakrishnan D, Gibson B, Rinaldo P, Vockley J, Hug G, Strauss AW. Molecular heterogeneity in very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency causing pediatric cardiomyopathy and sudden death. Circulation. 1999;99(10):1337-43. PMID:10077518 
70. Mathur A, Blair W. Antenatal periventricular cysts and severe lactic acidaemia in a neonate-due to pyruvate carboxylase deficiency (PC) Eur J Pediatr . 1995;154:82-84.