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Published on: November 20, 2015
Hyperthermia, inflammation, and perinatal brain injury
Ericalyn Kasdorf1, Jeffrey M Perlman
1Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA. erk9007@med.cornell.edu
Pediatric Neurology
|May 21, 2013
Summary
Elevated body temperature during or after hypoxic-ischemic events and labor can harm infant brain development. This review links maternal hyperthermia to adverse neurological outcomes like seizures and cerebral palsy in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal neurology
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes
- Hyperthermia research
Background:
- Hyperthermia during or after hypoxic-ischemic (HI) insult correlates with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Elevated maternal temperature during labor is linked to neonatal seizures, encephalopathy, stroke, and cerebral palsy.
- Chorioamnionitis is associated with cerebral palsy, potentially via cytokine-mediated injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review experimental and human studies.
- To demonstrate the link between hyperthermia and perinatal brain injury.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing experimental studies.
- Review of human observational studies.
- Analysis of associations between maternal temperature and neonatal neurological sequelae.
Main Results:
- Hyperthermia contributes to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes following hypoxic-ischemic insults.
- Increased temperature during labor is associated with significant neurological damage in newborns.
- Mechanisms include increased metabolic rate, altered cerebral blood flow, excitotoxicity, and hemostatic changes.
Conclusions:
- Hyperthermia is a significant risk factor for perinatal brain injury.
- Understanding these links is crucial for preventing adverse neurological outcomes in infants.
- Further research into mitigating hyperthermia's effects is warranted.
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