Neonatal Med.  2017 Aug;24(3):101-109. 10.5385/nm.2017.24.3.101.

Clinical Trials for Preterm Infants' Neurodevelopment to the Norm: Erythropoietin and Nutritional Interventions

• Park SH

• KMID: 2388973
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5385/nm.2017.24.3.101

Abstract

Although the incidence of severe intraventicular hemorrhage and cystic periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants has significantly decreased, approximately 10-15% of preterm survivors demonstrate cerebral palsy and 50-80% of extremely preterm infants demonstrate mild-to-severe neurodevelopmental impairment. Compared to term infants, preterm infants show a higher incidence of brain damage secondary to hypoxic injury, inflammation, and malnutrition. Clinical trials have evaluated outcomes following early administration of high dose erythropoietin and nutritional interventions including early aggressive nutrition, human breast milk, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation to prevent preterm infants' neurodevelopmental impairment and improve neurodevelopmental outcome. Further studies are warranted to investigate the safety, optimal dose, timing, duration with respect to erythropoietin and nutritional interventions, and the optimization of a target population of preterm infants suited for interventions.

Keyword

Erythropoietin; Nutrition; Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; Preterm infants

MeSH Terms

Brain
Cerebral Palsy
Erythropoietin*
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
Health Services Needs and Demand
Hemorrhage
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Extremely Premature
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Inflammation
Leukomalacia, Periventricular
Malnutrition
Milk, Human
Survivors
Erythropoietin
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated