Anticonvulsant effect of xenon on neonatal asphyxial seizures. Issue 5 (9th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Azzopardi, Denis; Robertson, Nicola J; Kapetanakis, Andrew; Griffiths, James; Rennie, Janet M; Mathieson, Sean R; Edwards, A David
• Other Names: Deierl Aniko author non-byline.; Merchant Nazakat author non-byline.; Srinivasan Latha author non-byline.; Viac Isabelle author non-byline.; Kendall Giles author non-byline.; Dinan Mary author non-byline.; Uria Cristina author non-byline.; Nandiran Ratnaval author non-byline.; Turner Mark author non-byline.; Wallace Virginia author non-byline.; Franks Nicholas author non-byline.; Maze Mervyn author non-byline.; Fagiolo Gianlorenzo author non-byline.; Hajnal Joseph author non-byline.; Charles-Edwards Geoff author non-byline.; Cady Ernest author non-byline.; Abernethy Lawrence author non-byline.
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 98:Issue 5(2013)
• Page Start: F437
• Page End: F439
• Publication Date: 2013-04-09
• Subjects: Neonatology -- Neurodevelopment -- Neurodisability -- Neurology -- Neuropathology; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Newborn infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Fetus -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920105
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2013-303786
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-2998

Abstract

Abstract : Xenon, a monoatomic gas with very high tissue solubility, is a non-competitive inhibitor of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor, has antiapoptotic effects and is neuroprotective following hypoxic ischaemic injury in animals. Xenon may be expected to have anticonvulsant effects through glutamate receptor blockade, but this has not previously been demonstrated clinically. We examined seizure activity on the real time and amplitude integrated EEG records of 14 full-term infants with perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy treated within 12 h of birth with 30% inhaled xenon for 24 h combined with 72 h of moderate systemic hypothermia. Seizures were identified on 5 of 14 infants. Seizures stopped during xenon therapy but recurred within a few minutes of withdrawing xenon and stopped again after xenon was restarted. Our data show that subanaesthetic levels of xenon may have an anticonvulsant effect. Inhaled xenon may be a valuable new therapy in this hard-to-treat population.