Combination therapy with naloxone and cerebrolysin for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in neonates

Abstract

Objective To explore the efficacy of naloxone combined with cerebrolysin for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in neonates. Methods 162 neonate patients were ramdonly assigned to receive oxygen inhalation, control of liquid intake, dehydration, anti-convulsion, energy mixture, citicoline,and naloxone (control group), or the former therapy plus cerebrolysin (study group, 81 neonates). The efficacy was assessed in the two goroups according to the clinical manifestations and incidence of sequelae. Results The efficacy was obviously greater in the study group than in the control group (96.3% vs. 88.9% for the effective rate, P＜0.05) and the incidence of sequelae was lower. Conclusions Naloxone combined with cerebrolysin has a synergetic effect on the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in neonates. It can improve blood perfusion into the ischemic areas of the brain, promote neural cellular metabolism, improve prognosis, and reduce nervous system sequelae. Key words: Neonate; Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; Cerebrolysin; Naloxone