Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Sep 1;11(3):125-133.
doi: 10.1053/j.nainr.2011.07.004.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: Pathophysiology and Experimental Treatments

Kimberly A Allen  1 , Debra H Brandon
Affiliations

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: Pathophysiology and Experimental Treatments

Kimberly A Allen et al. Newborn Infant Nurs Rev. .

Abstract

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a serious birth complication affecting full term infants: 40-60% of affected infants die by 2 years of age or have severe disabilities. The majority of the underlying pathologic events of HIE are a result of impaired cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain with resulting primary and secondary energy failure. In the past, treatment options were limited to supportive medical therapy. Currently, several experimental treatments are being explored in neonates and animal models to ameliorate the effects of secondary energy failure. This review discusses the underlying pathophysiologic effects of a hypoxic-ischemic event and experimental treatment modalities being explored to manage infants with HIE. Further research is needed to better understand if the long-term impact of the experimental treatments and whether the combinations of experimental treatments can improve outcomes in infants with HIE.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The Evolution of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy * formula image = increased; formula image = decreased; PaO2 = arterial oxygen; Na+ = sodium; K+ = potassium; ATP = adenosine triphosphate; Ca2+ = calcium; NMDA = N-methyl-D-aspartate; AMPA = ∝-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid; ROS = reactive oxygen species; NO = nitric oxide; DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid
Figure 2
Figure 2
Location of Brain Structures Impacted by Treatments Figure courtesy of HowStuffWorks.com
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Schiariti V, Klassen AF, Hoube JS, et al. Perinatal characteristics and parents' perspective of health status of NICU graduates born at term. J Perinatol. 2008;28:368–376. - PubMed
    1. Graham EM, Ruis KA, Hartman AL, et al. A systematic review of the role of intrapartum hypoxia-ischemia in the causation of neonatal encephalopathy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;199:587–595. - PubMed
    1. Kurinczuk JJ, White-Koning M, Badawi N. Epidemiology of neonatal encephalopathy and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Early Hum Dev. 2010;86:329–338. - PubMed
    1. Long M, Brandon DH. Induced hypothermia for neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology Neonatal Nursing. 2007;36:293–298. - PubMed
    1. Pierrat V, Haouari N, Liska A, et al. Prevalence, causes, and outcome at 2 years of age of newborn encephalopathy: population based study. Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal Neonatal Edition. 2005;90:F257–261. - PMC - PubMed