EPO doping agent protects the brain from premature babies

Doping agent EPO protects the brain of premature babies

08/27/2014

As a doping agent, EPO (erythropoietin) has not only become unpleasantly famous in cycling. However, Swiss researchers have discovered an extremely beneficial effect of the hormone in the care of premature babies. Treating the premature babies with EPO immediately after birth protects their brains from potential brain damage, according to a statement by the University of Geneva.

Premature babies develop brain damage much more frequently than children who are born after the full duration of pregnancy, reports the research team of the University of Geneva and the University Hospital Geneva. The affected children often suffer from neurological impairments and delayed neuronal development throughout their lives. The Swiss scientists could now prove, „that the administration of three doses of erythropoietin shortly after birth significantly reduces the cerebral lesions in these children.“

400,000 premature births annually in Europe
„Nearly 400,000 children are born each year in Europe before the 32nd week of pregnancy is reached (2.6 million worldwide, according to the World Health Organization)“, reports the University of Geneva. The early birth has many health consequences for the children, including lesions and incomplete brain maturation. Especially in the white matter, which is important for the information transmission in the nervous system, deficits are noted. The Swiss researchers Petra S. Hüppi from the University of Geneva and Russia Ha Vinh Leuchter from the University Hospital of Geneva specialize in the imaging of the brain of infants. With the help of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), they were able to identify the early brain damage that causes long-term developmental impairment of the child such as motor or cognitive problems. Now they have examined the effect of EPO on the brain of premature babies - with extremely pleasing results.

EPO with neuroprotective effect
Synthetic erythropoietin stimulates red blood cell production and, according to the University of Geneva, for example, is used in adults to treat anemia in kidney failure. „Several recent studies have shown that this hormone also has a neuroprotective effect“, reports the University of Basel on. As part of their study, the research team led by Professor Petra Susan Hüppi examined 165 premature infants, the effects of the administration of three doses of EPO in the first 48 hours after birth on the brain of premature babies. Half of the children were treated with EPO, the remainder were given a placebo. According to a report by the University of Geneva, differences in the brain substance of children could be detected with the help of functional magnetic resonance imaging. „We found that the brains of treated children had significantly fewer lesions than those of the control group receiving placebo“, Ha Ha Russia reported Vinh Leuchter. This clearly confirms for the first time the positive effect of this hormone on the brains of prematurely born children. (Fp)