Pharmacological Treatment of Hypoxic-Ischemic Reperfusion Injury of the Newborn Brain in the Clinical Setting: What are the Possibilities in the Near Future?

Abstract

Despite ongoing research and new insights into the pathophysiological pathways of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic reperfusion brain injury, effective treatment is not yet available. This review briefly covers the mechanisms of hypoxicischemic reperfusion injury and focuses on promising pharmacological neuroprotective strategies which may become available for clinical use in the near future. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of early intervention and combination therapy with moderate hypothermia are discussed.