Human perinatal asphyxia: Correlation of neonatal cytokines with MRI and outcome

Clinical studies of the preterm neonate and animal models of asphyxia[ brai n injury both support a role for proinflammatory cytokines in central nervo us system (CNS) injury. There are fewer studies of perinatal CNS injury in the full-term neonate. We have performed a prospective cohort study of full -term infants with perinatal asphyxia. Using archived neonatal blood sample s, we have analyzed the serum levels of several proinflammatory cytokines. Preliminary results demonstrate an increase in IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in those children who are deceased at 1 year or who have a diagnosis of cereb ral palsy versus those with normal neuromotor outcome. Further analysis wil l include correlations of cytokine levels with injury on MRI spectroscopy, with neonatal clinical markers of encephalopathy, and with later neurodevel opmental outcome. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.