Brain Hypothermic Therapy Dramatically Decreases Elevated Blood Concentrations of High Mobility Group Box 1 in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Abstract EN

Background.

According to the Consensus 2010 of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), children with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) should receive brain hypothermic therapy (BHT) after successful resuscitation.

Elevated high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in the blood at the early stage of brain ischemia-reperfusion injury has been suggested to be involved in the release of various inflammatory cytokines.

Methods.

In total, 21 neonates plasma HMGB1 concentration was measured.

These neonates included 8 with HIE in whom BHT was indicated, 5 controls diagnosed as having HIE but who were not suitable candidates for BHT, and 8 normal controls.

Results.

The umbilical artery HMGB1 (UA-HMGB1) level before undergoing BHT significantly exceeded reference values.

The UA-HMGB1 level in the BHT (−) group did not differ significantly from reference values, but was significantly increased 24 hours after birth.

Repeated measure ANOVA showed a significant difference in time course changes between the BHT (+) and BHT (−) groups (P=0.0002).

Conclusions.

This study demonstrated hypothermic therapy to significantly decrease HMGB1.

Furthermore, HMGB1 is a useful index of the inhibition of early stage inflammation.