TY - JOUR T1 - Does erythropoietin protect the preterm brain? JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition JO - Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed SP - F364 LP - F366 DO - 10.1136/adc.2003.041533 VL - 89 IS - 4 AU - T Strunk AU - C Härtel AU - C Schultz Y1 - 2004/07/01 UR - http://fn.bmj.com/content/89/4/F364.abstract N2 - There is a high incidence of hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury and intraventricular haemorrhage in newborn infants, particularly those born preterm. Many die during the newborn period or suffer permanent neurodevelopmental handicaps. Hypoxic brain injury develops over several hours and could potentially be influenced by intervention. At present, no drug exists that effectively prevents infant brain injury or ameliorates detrimental neurodevelopmental effects. The hypothesis is put forward that systemic administration of recombinant human erythropoietin positively affects the neurodevelopmental outcome of high risk preterm infants affected by brain injury. A multicentre, randomised, placebo controlled study is proposed to prospectively test this hypothesis. ER -