Abstract | OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries in childhood are associated with poor neurological outcome. Unfortunately, no new therapeutic approaches have been proposed. Recently, animal studies show that nerve growth factor ( NGF) can reduce neurological deficits following hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the therapeutic effects of intraventricular NGF infusion in severe post-ischemic damage. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Two infants, aged 9 and 8 months, with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, secondary to prolonged cardiorespiratory arrest and stabilized after the conventional treatment, were treated with intraventricular NGF infusion. Before the therapy both infants were comatose with asymmetrical tetraparesis; their Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 4 and 5, respectively. One month after the treatment, their GCS was 8 and 9, respectively. EEG examinations performed after the NGF infusion showed an increased alpha/theta ratio. MRI showed a reduction of malacic areas in the brain. A SPECT study, performed only in one infant, demonstrated that the NGF treatment resulted in an improvement of regional cerebral perfusion in right temporal and occipital cortices. INTERVENTION: The drug utilized was 2.5S NGF purified and lyophilized from male mouse submaxillary glands. NGF infusion was started about 30 days after the hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. 0.1 mg NGF was administered via the external drainage catheter into the right cerebral ventricle once a day for 10 days consecutively. CONCLUSION: Our observations are interesting, but further studies are necessary to confirm the effects of NGF in hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries in infants.
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Authors | Antonio Chiaretti, Orazio Genovese, Riccardo Riccardi, Concezio Di Rocco, Daniela Di Giuda, Paolo Mariotti, Silvia Pulitanò, Marco Piastra, Giancarlo Polidori, Giovanna Stefania Colafati, Luigi Aloe |
Journal | Neurological research
(Neurol Res)
Vol. 27
Issue 7
Pg. 741-6
(Oct 2005)
ISSN: 0161-6412 [Print] England |
PMID | 16197811
(Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Cerebral Ventricles
- Electroencephalography
- Humans
- Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain
(diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, physiopathology)
- Infant
- Infusions, Parenteral
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Nerve Growth Factor
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
- Treatment Outcome
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