Objective: To study the effect of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage and the neurodevelopmental outcome in term babies with perinatal asphyxia.
Methods: Babies in the hypothermia group were cooled for the first 72 h, using gel packs. Rectal temperature of 33-34°C was maintained. Blood sample was collected before, at 36 h and after completion of TH for assessment of comet assay and 8-hydroxy2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Infants were followed up till 12 months.
Results: Baseline parameters were similar. After 72 h, the hypothermia group showed lower olive tail moment (12.88 ± 2.14) than the control group (22.16 ± 5.26) (p < 0.001). 8-HDG levels increased significantly in the control group (1252.87 ± 357.07) as compared to the hypothermia group (757.03 ± 198.49) (p < 0.001). Neurodevelopmental assessment at 12 months showed significantly low motor and mental developmental quotient in the control than hypothermia group.
Conclusions: TH reduces oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and improves neurodevelopmental outcome. <Trial registration No: CTRI/2011/10/002094>
Keywords: comet assay; gel packs; neurodevelopment; oxidative stress; perinatal asphyxia; therapeutic hypothermia.