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Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition 2004;89:F364-F366; doi:10.1136/adc.2003.041533
Copyright © 2004 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition 2004;89:F364
© 2004 Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition

HYPOTHESIS

Does erythropoietin protect the preterm brain?

T Strunk, C Härtel and C Schultz

Department of Paediatrics, University of Lübeck Medical School, Lübeck, Germany

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Schultz
University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Department of Paediatrics, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany; schultz{at}paedia.ukl.mu-luebeck.de

ABSTRACT

There is a high incidence of hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury and intraventricular haemorrhage in newborn infants, particularly those born preterm. Many die during the newborn period or suffer permanent neurodevelopmental handicaps. Hypoxic brain injury develops over several hours and could potentially be influenced by intervention. At present, no drug exists that effectively prevents infant brain injury or ameliorates detrimental neurodevelopmental effects. The hypothesis is put forward that systemic administration of recombinant human erythropoietin positively affects the neurodevelopmental outcome of high risk preterm infants affected by brain injury. A multicentre, randomised, placebo controlled study is proposed to prospectively test this hypothesis.

Abbreviations: Epo, erythropoietin; EpoR, erythropoietin receptor

Keywords: erythropoietin; neuroprotection; preterm; brain


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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Anderson, N. G., Laurent, I., Cook, N., Woodward, L., Inder, T. E. (2005). Growth Rate of Corpus Callosum in Very Premature Infants. Am. J. Neuroradiol. 26: 2685-2690 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

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