Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy News and Research

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Infant mortality rate rises sharply when mothers experience pregnancy-associated death

A new study found that infant mortality rates in Massachusetts were 14 times higher among babies whose mother experienced a pregnancy-associated death than among babies whose mother survived pregnancy and postpartum.

26 Sep 2025

Erythropoietin fails to improve outcomes for newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Erythropoietin, a treatment for newborns with critically low levels of oxygen or blood supply to the brain at birth, does not prevent death or disability, according to a new multinational study.

25 Apr 2025

Cooling treatment shows no benefits for preterm infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

Lowering the body temperature of preterm infants (born at 33 to 35 weeks of pregnancy) with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)-a type of brain damage caused by oxygen loss-offers no benefits over standard care, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

25 Feb 2025

New technology reveals the critical role of sleep in infant brain development

Researchers have developed advanced technology to measure neonatal sleep patterns, revealing how sleep significantly impacts brain development before and after birth.

8 Jul 2024

mRNA COVID vaccines in pregnancy linked to lower risk of neonatal issues, study shows

A JAMA Network study finds COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in pregnant women not only safe but also associated with reduced risks of neonatal cerebral ischemia, intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality, supporting vaccination during pregnancy.

9 Feb 2024

Patients facing death are opting for a lifesaving heart device — but at what risk?

Too old and too sick for a heart transplant, Arvid Herrman was given a choice: Have a mechanical pump implanted in his heart, potentially keeping him alive for several years, or do nothing and almost certainly die within a year.

19 Dec 2023

Case study shows how COVID-19 breached the placenta and caused brain damage in the baby

Researchers at UHealth - the University of Miami Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have shown that, in two cases, COVID-19 infection breached the placenta and caused brain damage in the newborn.

6 Apr 2023

Research evaluates neonatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity

A recent study discusses the association of maternal body mass index in pregnancy with neonatal outcomes.

25 Jan 2023

Umbilical cord milking may be safe, more effective for non-vigorous term and near- term infants

A treatment to move blood from the umbilical cord into an infant's body may improve the overall health of newborns classified as non-vigorous—limp, pale and with minimal breathing, suggests a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

7 Sep 2022

Adding erythropoietin to cooling therapy shows no added benefits for newborns with birth asphyxia

Adding erythropoietin to cooling therapy for term newborns with birth asphyxia has no benefit over cooling therapy alone, a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

14 Jul 2022

Research may lead to more effective interventions for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

One of the most common causes of disability or death in newborns is a lack of oxygen or blood flow in the brain during labor or delivery.

11 May 2022

Rapid infusion of NaHCO3 bolus after extensive resuscitation leads to higher blood flows to the brain and heart

A new study examines the effect of rapid infusion of 2meq/kg of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in an ovine model on gas exchange and coronary and cerebral perfusion in the immediate post-resuscitation phase.

22 Apr 2022

Looking into the long-COVID brain

Neurological issues, ranging from memory lapses to trouble with attention, have been widely reported after recovery from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infection. Unfortunately, there is limited information about pathways to recovery after severe COVID hospitalization. Now, a prospective study of 4,491 patients hospitalized with COVID suggests neurological recovery can take at least a year. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint while awaiting peer review.

13 Feb 2022

Neural connections of newborns with brain injuries impact childhood functional outcomes

A new UCSF study that mapped the neural connections of newborns with two different kinds of brain injuries found the maps looked very different - and were linked to significantly different developmental outcomes years later.

6 Jan 2022

Study shows risk of MIS-C post mRNA vaccination against COVID-19 in children with autoimmune complications

Researchers discuss two cases of MIS-V after the patients had received the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2).

23 Nov 2021

MRI study suggests link between SARS-CoV-2 and brain lesions in COVID-19 patients with pneumonia

New research suggests pneumonia in COVID-19 patients is linked to viral-induced changes in the brain. MRI scans revealed 57.9% of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infected patients had recent brain lesions.

20 Oct 2021

Rewarming after cooling therapy increases the odds of seizures in oxygen-deprived newborns

Oxygen-deprived newborns who undergo cooling therapy to protect their brains are at an elevated risk of seizures and brain damage during the rewarming period, which could be a precursor of disability or death, a new study by a team of researchers led by a UT Southwestern pediatrician suggests.

19 Oct 2021

COVID-19 in pregnancy does not significantly increase respiratory illness in newborns, says study

A new study published in the journal JAMA offers reassuring evidence that infants born to mothers with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), or even asymptomatic infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), have little increase in respiratory symptoms over babies born to uninfected mothers.

4 May 2021

Acid reflux drug could help newborns recover from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Researchers in China have discovered a potential way to prevent a lack of oxygen or blood flow from causing long-lasting brain damage in newborn children.

29 Sep 2020

Researchers report a key breakthrough to help protect newborns from brain damage

Oxygen deprivation can be the worst start to a newborn's life, resulting in brain damage, epilepsy, developmental delays and death.

23 Jun 2020