title: Early postnatal allopurinol does not improve short term outcome after severe birth asphyxia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether postnatal allopurinol would reduce free radical induced reperfusion/reoxygenation injury of the brain in severely asphyxiated neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an interim analysis of a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study, 32 severely asphyxiated infants were given allopurinol or a vehicle within four hours of birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis showed an unaltered (high) mortality and morbidity in the infants treated with allopurinol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allopurinol treatment started postnatally was too late to reduce the early reperfusion induced free radical surge. Allopurinol administration to the fetus with (imminent) hypoxia via the mother during labour may be more effective in reducing free radical induced post-asphyxial brain damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center KE 4.123.1, PO Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, the Netherlands. m.benders@azu.nl
authors.forename: M J N L
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Benders
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: C M A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rademaker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rijken
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Torrance
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Groenendaal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Bel
mesh_terms: D000493:Allopurinol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D000493:Allopurinol