Efficacy of different treatment times of mild cerebral hypothermia on oxidative factors and neuroprotective effects in neonatal patients with moderate/severe hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of different treatment times of mild cerebral hypothermia for treating moderate/severe hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonatal patients and its effects on oxidative factors. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, controlled study included 92 neonatal patients with moderate/severe HIE and 30 controls. The patients with HIE received routine treatment, 48 hours of hypothermia, or 72 hours of hypothermia. RESULTS: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) values were significantly lower and malondialdehyde (MDA) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) values were higher in patients with HIE than in controls before the study. After 24, 48, and 72 hours of treatment, SOD values in all patients with HIE gradually increased and MDA and NSE values gradually decreased. At 3, 7, and 10 days, the Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment scores were highest in the mild hypothermia for 72 hours group than in the other groups. The Mental and Psychomotor Development Indices scores of the Bayley Scales were significantly higher in the mild hypothermia for 72 hours group than in the other groups. CONCLUSION: Hypothermia treatment of 72 hours is better than 48 hours for improving oxidative conditions, reducing NSE values, and improving neurological behavior and development for neonates with moderate/severe HIE.