Perinatal asphyxia is one of the commonest causes of neonatal death and long term disability, occurring in 20 per 1000 live births. Of these, approximately 2-3 per 1000 will go on to develop hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).  In Ireland and the UK HIE is the third commonest cause of neonatal mortality, accounting for 9% of all deaths, and 21% of term deaths, while globally it is estimated to cause over 1 million neonatal deaths each year.  Over the last 2 years, here in the Cork University Maternity Hospital, through the BIHIVE study (Biomarkers in Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy study) we have identified potential biochemical markers in umbilical cord blood which can accurately identify those infants who will progress to moderate/severe encephalopathy. To develop these markers further we will recruit a further cohort of carefully recruited infants with high quality biobanking at birth and detailed clinical phenotyping. Further validation will allow us to develop an algorithm of clinical and biochemical markers which will provide a sensitive and specific predictive test for moderate/severe HIE.

Further information will be available at: http://www.medscinet.net/BIHIVE/