Uncovering the Role of Inflammation with Asphyxia in the Newborn.

ABSTRACT

The etiology of perinatal brain injury is multifactorial, but exposure to perinatal hypoxiaischemia (HI) is a major underlying factor. This review discusses the role of exposure to infection/inflammation in the evolution of HI brain injury, changes in immune responsiveness to subsequent inflammatory challenges after HI and modulation of neural outcomes with interaction between perinatal HI and inflammatory insults. The authors critically assess the clinical and preclinical evidence for the neuroprotective efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia and other anti-inflammatory treatments for inflammation-sensitized HI injury.