Comparison of Different Adjuvant Therapies for Hypothermia in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether combining melatonin with hypothermia therapy could improve outcomes in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, particularly in reducing neurodevelopmental impairment.
Results Summary
The study found that hypothermia combined with melatonin may reduce neurodevelopmental impairment, but the evidence quality was low due to small sample size. No significant effects were observed for mortality, seizures, or abnormal brain imaging findings.
Population
Neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hypothermia (HT) | decrease | neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | may reduce | #1 |
erythropoietin magnesium sulfate | no change | mortality | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #2 |
melatonin (MT) | no change | mortality | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #3 |
topiramate | no change | mortality | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #4 |
xenon | no change | mortality | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #5 |
darbepoetin alfa | no change | mortality | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #6 |
erythropoietin magnesium sulfate | no change | seizures | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #7 |
melatonin (MT) | no change | seizures | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #8 |
topiramate | no change | seizures | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #9 |
xenon | no change | seizures | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #10 |
darbepoetin alfa | no change | seizures | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #11 |
erythropoietin magnesium sulfate | no change | abnormal brain imaging findings | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #12 |
melatonin (MT) | no change | abnormal brain imaging findings | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #13 |
topiramate | no change | abnormal brain imaging findings | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #14 |
xenon | no change | abnormal brain imaging findings | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #15 |
darbepoetin alfa | no change | abnormal brain imaging findings | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | not statistically significant | #16 |
HT vs. MT+HT | increase | neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | 6.67, 95% confidence interval = 1.14-38.83 | odds ratio | #17 |
HT combined with MT | decrease | neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) | neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy | - | may reduce | #18 |
OBJECTIVES: Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a major cause of perinatal death and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI). Hypothermia (HT) is the standard of care; however, additional neuroprotective agents are required to improve prognosis. The authors searched for all drugs in combination with HT and compared their effects using a network meta-analysis. METHODS: The authors searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library until September 24, 2022 for articles assessing mortality, NDI, seizures, and abnormal brain imaging findings in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Direct pairwise comparisons and a network meta-analysis was performed under random effects. RESULTS: Thirteen randomized clinical trials enroled 902 newborns treated with six combination therapies: erythropoietin magnesium sulfate, melatonin (MT), topiramate, xenon, and darbepoetin alfa. The results of all comparisons were not statistically significant, except for NDI, HT vs. MT+HT: odds ratio = 6.67, 95% confidence interval = 1.14-38.83; however, the overall evidence quality was low for the small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, no combination therapy can reduce mortality, seizures, or abnormal brain imaging findings in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. According to low quality evidence, HT combined with MT may reduce NDI.