Birth asphyxia-induced brain damage: the long road to optimal reduction and prevention!

Moderate hypothermia (HT) is the only established therapy to reduce birth asphyxia-induced brain injury in (near) term neonates, but it is conceivable that pharmacological add-on therapy during or after HT can further reduce brain damage. This paper summarizes neuroprotective interventions with drugs that have possible potential to do so. We finally discuss the potential role of autologous and allogenic mesenchymal stem cell therapy for the repair of birth asphyxia-related brain injury.