Therapeutic hypothermia reduces oxidative stress in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Background: To evaluate the effect of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) on oxidative stress in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HİE). Method: This study was designed as a prospective study. Sixteen term neonates diagnosed with HİE who were admitted for TH in a neonatal intensive care unit within one year were included in the study. The oxidative stress markers (Total Antioxidant Capacity ( TAC) and Total Oxidative Stress (TOS) in venous blood were measured before and after TH. Oxidative stress index(OSI) was calculated as the percent ratio of TOS to TAS. Results: After TH, the TAC increased compared to before (p=0.001), while TOS (p=0.005) and OSI (p=0.001) decreased. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that therapeutic hypothermia applied to newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy reduces oxidative stress. Adjuvant treatments that reduce oxidative stress may enhance the effect of hypothermia.