ST. LOUIS, Nov 18, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Some drugs used in premature babies
and in pregnant women at risk for preterm deliveries can kill infant brain
cells, research by U.S. scientists shows.
The study indicated the class of steroid drugs, glucocorticoids, often used to
help underdeveloped lungs in premature infants, irreversibly damaged baby mice's
brain cells in the cerebellum, the area responsible for coordination and
balance, USA Today reported.
In the study, brain cells in mice died after treatments administered four to 10
days after birth, said study author Kevin Noguchi, a post-doctoral fellow at
Washington University School of Medicine. In human babies, the period would be
from about 20 weeks in the womb to six weeks after birth, he said.
Noguchi said other studies indicate a synthetic steroid -- dexamethasone --
causes motor and cognitive problems in children.
The authors said the toxic effects don't seem to affect the brains of older
babies, children and adults, USA Today reported.
"Our studies in mice suggest that once a human infant is a few months old, these
drugs -- which are used for other medical conditions, too -- don't appear to
have this type of toxic effect," co-author Nuri Farber said.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International