Developmental Brain Injury (DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE) by S. J. Vannucci

The immature brain is vulnerable to a number of prenatal and early postnatal stresses, such as maternal infection and birth asphyxia, which may produce permanent brain damage leading to neurological dysfunction in the survivors. The dysfunction depends on the developmental stage, as well as the type, severity and duration of the insult. Information obtained from human infants combined with data from several experimental animal models highlight the interaction of hypoxia-ischemia, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, seizures, and inflammation on the pathophysiology of developmental brain injury and ultimate neurologic outcome.