Neonatal encephalopathy in the term infant: neuroimaging and inflammatory cytokines

The interrelationship between inflammation and ischemia is complex and poorly understood in the developing nervous system. In the preterm newborn, maternal infection may predispose to white matter injury and may be associated with cytokine elevation. In the term infant, few studies exist linking elevation of cytokines with encephalopathy and poor neurodevelopmental outcome. This review discusses the interplay among inflammatory cytokines, neonatal encephalopathy, and neuroimaging parameters.