Cell transplantation is a promising new avenue for treating cerebral palsy (CP). Previous research has shown that stem cell therapy can help children with cerebral palsy; a study published this month indicates that treatment with macrophages may also be effective. Essentially, macrophages are cells that can repair damaged brain tissue and blood vessels, thereby enhancing…
Thus far, the most effective medical intervention for infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is hypothermia therapy, or cooling treatment. When administered very shortly after birth or the oxygen-depriving incident, this therapy can reverse brain damage and minimize (or in some cases prevent) permanent harm. However, hypothermia therapy is not always effective, and additional solutions for…
Currently, the only available treatment for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), besides supportive care and therapy to mitigate the symptoms, is hypothermia therapy. This involves cooling a baby down to a below-normal temperature in order to allow the brain to recover from a hypoxic-ischemic injury and limit the spread of damage. Hypothermia therapy is known to reduce…
New research released June 16, 2017 in Pediatric Neurology validates a new clinical MRI scoring system for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This new scoring system can help medical practitioners more accurately counsel parents about what their child’s short- and long-term outcomes may look like and help guide treatment and therapy decisions for the child. MRI Injury…
Oxygen Deprivation at Birth, Preeclampsia, Other Factors Increased Autism Risk Up to 44% New research in the American Journal of Perinatology conducted by Kaiser-Permanente researchers has tied complications such as birth asphyxia (oxygen deprivation at birth, formally known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE) to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), a variety of neurodevelopmental abnormalities characterized by…
Some babies with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) may have other health issues relating to the failure or dysfunction of other organs, such as the kidneys, liver or intestines. Why is this? Babies who have been impacted by birth asphyxia sometimes demonstrate a reflex called the “mammalian diving reflex.” When oxygen supply is limited around the time…
New research finds that maternal obesity in early pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of birth asphyxia (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy) and cerebral palsy. These new findings highlight the importance of informing mothers about potential birth-related complications and risks. Researchers from the University of Michigan and Sweden’s Karolinska Institute found that not only does being obese…
New research conducted by the Perelman School of Medicine finds that combining Cytotec and Foley catheters for labor induction speeds up the process of labor. Some have taken this to mean that using these two items is a safe way to reduce labor time, sparing mothers nearly four hours of labor and saving hospitals money….
Researchers have completed preliminary clinical trials that indicate erythropoietin (EPO) may be useful in helping protect babies’ brains against damage caused by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The study looked at the efficacy of EPO when paired with hypothermia therapy (also known as brain cooling, head cooling, or whole-body cooling, depending on technique type). Their work, presented at…
Birth injuries can cause serious developmental disabilities and cerebral palsy. In 3 to 5 out of 1,000 births, babies are injured due to a lack of oxygen to their brain (an injury known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE). Researchers are constantly looking for new ways to decrease the severity of brain damage in babies with…
