title: Therapeutic strategies to protect the immature newborn myocardium during resuscitation following asphyxia.
abstract: Perinatal asphyxia contributes to over one million newborn deaths worldwide annually, and may progress to multiorgan failure. Cardiac dysfunction, of varying severity, is seen in 50%-70% of asphyxiated newborns. Resuscitation is necessary to restore oxygenation to deprived tissues, including the heart. However, reoxygenation of asphyxiated newborns may lead to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and further myocardial damage, termed reperfusion injury. The newborn heart is especially vulnerable to oxidative stress and reperfusion injury due to immature antioxidant defense mechanisms and increased vulnerability to apoptosis. Currently, newborn myocardial protective strategies are aimed at reducing the generation of ROS through controlled reoxygenation, boosting antioxidant defenses, and attenuating cellular injury via mitochondrial stabilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.
authors.forename: Richdeep S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Jean-Sébastien
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: LaBossiere
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bigam
authors.forename: Po-Yin
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species