Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury – theoretical background

Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic injury occurs in 1–6 life births and remains a major and important cause of long-term neurologic disability. Neuronal death in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, hippocampus and in severe cases brain stem are the neuropathological hallmarks. Increasing evidence suggests also global white matter injury resulting in alterations of physiological cortical development. Hypoxia-ischemia, inflammation and excitotoxicity are considered important acute and subacute insults resulting in various forms of cell death. Genetic background, maturational age, sex and stage of brain developme…