Does nitric oxide reduce fetal brain injury

To verify whether nitric oxide supplementation is able to prevent brain inj ury in growth retarded fetuses, we have studied 19 pregnant women with IUGR fetuses randomly selected to receive either transdermal glyceryl trinitrat e or placebo. Ten uncomplicated pregnancies matched for gestational age rep resented the control group. IUGR fetuses not treated showed higher concentr ations of S-100 than control group whereas S-100 levels in treated IUGR fet uses were not different from control group, but they were significantly low er (p<0.01) than those found in not treated IUGR fetuses. Clinical outcome showed a reduction of brain dysfunction signs in treated fetuses. Reduction of S-100 protein levels in IUGR fetuses treated with NO demonstra tes that improvement in utero-placental circulation may allow to prevent fe tal abnormal haemodynamics response which causes brain damage