Cooling Therapy Fails Preterm Infants with HIE, Study Finds

A UNC-led study finds cooling therapy ineffective and potentially harmful for preterm infants with HIE. Learn why and what future treatments may offer.

Cooling Therapy for Preterm Infants with HIE? Think Again

Did you know that hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) affects 2-3 out of every 1,000 newborns in the U.S.? This serious condition, caused by a lack of oxygen during birth, can lead to lifelong disabilities, including

Cerebral palsy
Heart complications

For years, therapeutic hypothermia, a cooling treatment used to lower body temperature, has been the gold standard for protecting the brains of full-term babies with HIE. But what about preterm infants? A groundbreaking study led by UNC School of Medicine and the University of Utah Health Sciences Center has uncovered surprising results:

This treatment (therapeutic hypothermia) may not only be ineffective but could also be harmful for preterm babies.

What the Study Found: Cooling Therapy May Cause More Harm

The NICHD Neonatal Research Network conducted a seven-year clinical trial across 19 centers in the U.S., studying 168 preterm infants (born at 33-35 weeks) with HIE.

Here’s what they discovered:

35% of infants who received therapeutic hypothermia developed severe disabilities or died.
29% of those who received normal temperature care experienced the same outcome.

This means preterm infants undergoing cooling therapy had a higher risk of severe complications compared to those who didn’t receive it.

“We found that this form of therapy, more likely than not, harms preterm infants. This is not something that should be done routinely for preterm babies,” said Dr. Matthew Laughon, professor of neonatal-perinatal medicine and co-author of the study.

Why Doesn’t Cooling Therapy Work for Preterm Babies?

The exact reason remains unclear, researchers emphasize that preterm infants have unique physiological needs. Their developing brains and bodies may not respond to cooling therapy the way full-term infants do.

“The main message of the study is that we should always study therapies in different populations before adopting them,” said Laughon. “Preterm infants are fragile and require specialized care.”

What’s Next for Preterm HIE Treatment?

Though cooling therapy is not the answer for preterm infants, researchers are hopeful that new drug-based therapies could offer better outcomes.

“Premature infants should not receive hypothermia, but there may be medicines in the future that can help them,” Laughon added.

Final Thoughts

This study serves as a wake-up call for neonatal care. While therapeutic hypothermia remains a lifesaving treatment for full-term infants with HIE, it is not suitable for preterm babies. More research is needed to find safer and more effective treatments for this vulnerable group.

Inputs from various media sources.

I am an MBBS graduate and a dedicated medical writer with a strong passion for deep research and psychology. I enjoy breaking down complex medical topics into engaging, easy-to-understand content, aiming to educate and inspire readers by exploring the fascinating connection between health, science, and the human mind.