Imperial College London researchers have discovered that a blood test can effectively identify the root cause of brain injury in newborns, particularly those resulting from hypoxia, a lack of oxygen. Their study highlights distinct gene expression patterns in blood samples that can help determine if newborns are likely to respond to cooling treatment, a common therapy for brain injury in infants. The research suggests that babies from low and middle-income countries (LMICs) exhibit different gene expression patterns compared to those from high-income countries (HICs), indicating varying underlying causes of brain injury.
Lead investigator Professor Sudhin Thayyil explains that these differences may stem from chronic stresses during pregnancy in LMICs, while acute causes, such as complications during birth, prevail in HICs. Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), characterised by brain injury due to oxygen deprivation, remains a significant driver of newborn mortality worldwide. While therapeutic cooling has shown benefits in HICs, its effectiveness in LMICs remains uncertain, with previous studies indicating potential harm. Understanding the genetic markers of brain injury could pave the way for tailored treatment strategies and improve outcomes for affected newborns.
How might the development of a blood test to identify the underlying causes of brain injury in newborns revolutionize treatment approaches and outcomes for infants, particularly in low and middle-income countries where access to advanced medical interventions may be limited?