Page 15 - AN-2-4
P. 15

Advanced Neurology                                                Neonatal encephalopathy and cerebral palsy



            of AAC may be insufficient for CP children with a   limited improvement in abnormalities of functional
            history of NE. Concurrently, these patients also exhibit a   connectivity in the brain . The efficacy of therapeutic
                                                                                    [70]
            heightened incidence of swallowing difficulties. Current   hypothermia in reducing the prevalence of CP remains
            clinical therapies primarily focus on physical training,   inconclusive. While several studies have reported a
            which  proves  inadequate  for  supporting  improvements   significant reduction in CP incidence with therapeutic
            in  oral  feeding .  Previous  randomized  controlled   hypothermia [71-73] , another study found no clear differences
                          [59]
            trials of oral feeding interventions for children with CP   in CP rates among children aged six to seven who underwent
            demonstrated potential for improvement in oral motor   therapeutic hypothermia compared to those who did
            function. However, these interventions did not yield   not . This inconsistency underscores the imperative need
                                                                  [74]
            significant enhancements in feeding efficiency or weight   for further research, especially in investigating the impact
            gain [60-62] , indicating the necessity for further development   of therapeutic hypothermia on CP patients with a history
            in this domain. Moreover, our analysis revealed a notably   of NE. Our recent meta-analysis study has demonstrated
            higher rate of cognitive impairment in CP patients with   that the combination of therapeutic hypothermia with
            an NE history. Assessments of cognitive abilities in these   neuroprotective  adjuvants  not  only  shows  promise  in
            children often rely on assumptions rather than providing   reducing the length of hospital stay for infants diagnosed
            an accurate evaluation of intellectual ability. This reliance   with NE  but also opens avenues for further exploration.
                                                                      [75]
            on assumptions may result in potential erroneous   Delving into the effects of these combined therapeutic
            determinations of intellectual disability , consequently   approaches on CP patients with a history of NE may pave
                                            [63]
            limiting their opportunities for treatment , intellectual   the way for a new direction in the management of CP.
                                              [64]
            growth, and mainstream schooling [65,66] . Taken together,   In summary, our analysis identifies an increased
            our findings suggest the pressing need for the development   incidence of specific, commonly reported CP comorbidities
            of new therapeutic strategies specifically targeted at CP   in patients with preceding NE conditions, particularly
            patients with an NE history. Future research should   encompassing communication challenges, swallowing
            prioritize addressing complications exacerbated by NE.
                                                               difficulties,  and  cognitive  impairment.  Thus,  therapeutic
              The present analysis also furnishes evidence indicating   strategies should extend beyond addressing mobility issues
            a significantly higher incidence of the spastic quadriplegic   and emphasize the preservation of speech, swallowing, and
            subtype of CP in cases where the patient has a history   cognitive functions. For future clinical studies, there should
            of NE. A  recent review highlighted that CP spastic   be a strategic focus on monitoring a more comprehensive
            quadriplegic children often develop atypical movement   range of characteristics in CP patients with preceding NE
            patterns leading to multisystem consequences, aggravating   conditions, with a particular emphasis on gender-specific
            the condition and diminishing their quality of life . Given   differences.  This targeted approach aims to refine  the
                                                   [67]
            that physical disability is a shared characteristic across all   profiling  of  NE-induced  symptoms  and  characteristics
            CP cases, established therapies such as standard physical   in CP, consequently better informing the customization
            therapy, treadmill training, and functional gait training   of new treatment initiatives. Additionally, further
            have proven effective interventions clinically employed to   research should delve into the mechanisms underlying
            improve walking ability in patients with CP [35,36] . However,   NE-induced neurological impairments. This exploration
            an individual case report involving a non-ambulatory   holds the potential to contribute to the development of
            young adult with spastic quadriplegic CP revealed a 9.4%   more effective therapies designed not only to alleviate
            decrease in the distance covered in a walking endurance   mobility impairments but also to address additional
            test after 6 weeks of gait training. This case report suggests   cognitive and motor impairments in CP patients with an
            that while physical therapies have demonstrated efficacy   NE history. A  more favorable clinical prognosis entails
            in improving movement ability in CP patients overall, a   early interventions and improved access to rehabilitation
            combination of interventions or novel approaches may   resources, potentially aiding in the survival and improving
            be necessary to effectively support the physical health of   neurological outcomes for children with CP. This, in
            patients with the spastic quadriplegic subtype of CP, which   turn, contributes to a more enriched daily life experience
            was observed to be a predominant subtype following NE.  extending from childhood and into the future.
              Therapeutic hypothermia is the currently recognized
            standard of care for NE and has demonstrated efficacy in   5. Conclusion
            improving the survival rate and neurological outcomes   Children with CP following NE conditions at birth are more
            in affected neonates [68,69] . However, despite undergoing   inclined to exhibit the most severe spastic quadriplegic
            this treatment, a substantial number of patients continue   subtype. Those CP patients with an NE history show a
            to experience long-term neurological disorders, showing   significant increase in the incidence of comorbidities,


            Volume 2 Issue 4 (2023)                         9                         https://doi.org/10.36922/an.1719
   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20