Neuro protection for infants

Abstract

Infants receive a variety of brain injuries—intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in term infants, and often poorly defined events resulting in cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Recently, specific neuroprotective therapies have been tested to improve, including antenatal magnesium treatment for preterm deliveries and therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Numerous other neuroprotective treatments, including stem cell treatments and erythropoietin treatments, are being tested in animal models and erythropoietin treatments. In this issue of The Journal, Benders et al report that the treatment of term infants with perinatal arterial ischemic strokes with erythropoietin is safe and feasible. This pilot study should result in formal therapeutic trials. Such interventions are gaining traction as a number of neonatologists are teaming up with pediatric neurologists to develop neurologic neonatal intensive care units to better diagnose and develop treatments for infants at high-risk of brain injury. The use of newer imaging and monitoring tools makes these efforts very likely to succeed. Article page 481▶ Feasibility and Safety of Erythropoietin for Neuroprotection after Perinatal Arterial Ischemic StrokeThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 164Issue 3PreviewTo perform a feasibility and safety study with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) in neonates with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke. Full-Text PDF