Update on Mechanisms of the Pathophysiology of Neonatal Encephalopathy

Therapeutic hypothermia is now well established to significantly improve survival without disability after neonatal encephalopathy (NE). To further improve outcomes, we need to better understand the mechanisms of brain injury. The central finding, which offers the potential for neuroprotective and neurorestorative interventions, is that brain damage after perinatal hypoxia-ischemia evolves slowly over time. Although brain cells may die during profound hypoxia-ischemia, even after surprisingly severe insults cells may show transient recovery of oxidative metabolism during a "latent" phase characterized by actively suppressed neural metabolism and activity.

Source: Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine - July 7, 2021 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Joanne O. Davidson, Fernando Gonzalez, Pierre Gressens, Alistair J. Gunn, Newborn Brain Society Guidelines and Publications Committee Source Type: research