Research UPDATE: Preventing Hydrocephalus in Premature Infants

Very premature infants are at high risk of developing post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) as a complication to intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH).  Most often these infants will need permanent ventricular shunting to regulate the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow.  However, shunting has a high rate of complication that frequently requires multiple revisions resulting in a child having multiple brain surgeries.  For this reason, a therapeutic method to prevent PHH is crucial and highly desired. In a study published in Brain, researchers, investigate the potential of the molecule, decorin, in preventing PHH.  The results are exciting and show great promise in the work to develop a preventive therapy for the development of hydrocephalus. Dr. James P. (Pat) McAllister, member of the Hydrocephalus Association (HA) Medical Advisory Board and an HA Experienced Investigator grant recipient, was one of the primary researchers in the study.



Read more here:

http://www.hydroassoc.org/ha-updates/research-update-preventing-hydrocephalus-in-premature-infants/