PSYCHOMETRIC ANALYSIS IN CHILDREN WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION DUE TO PERINATAL HYPOXIA TREATED WITH FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR (FGF) AND SHOWING IMPROVEMENT IN MENTAL-DEVELOPMENT

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has shown a neurotrophic effect in the neurons of several CNS areas. In vivo, it contributes to restor e neurochemical and morphological deficits in different rodent models of brain damage, including rats with brain damage induced by hypoxia/i schemia when FGF was intramuscularly (i.m.) administered. Toxicologica l and immunological studies performed in rats, mice and volunteers sho wed no evidence of side-effects. Bovine FGF was i.m. administered in c hildren with mental retardation caused by perinatal hypoxia, aged 1-15 years, at dosages of 0.4 or 0.28 mug kg-1, once or twice a month, ove r 7-12 months. Group A [n = 12; 6 treated (T), 6 controls (Ct)], group B (n = 16; 8 T, 8 Ct) and group C (n = 67; 45 T, 22 Ct) were evaluate d with the P. A. R. scale, the WISC-RM and the Gesell scale, respectiv ely. Development increased significantly in treated children from grou ps A (P<0.02) and C (P<0.001), and IQ rose by more than 10 points (P<0 .001) in group B patients.