Mild hypothermia as a treatment for CNS injuries: Positive or negative effects?

There are few data on the effectiveness and mechanism underlying mild hypothermia in the treatment of central nervous system injuries. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the potentially beneficial effects of mild hypothermia on central nervous system injuries. Rami Dar and colleagues from Chongqing Medical University summarize and analyze mild hypothermia's protective effects, no matter whether they are positive or negative, on central nervous system injuries through several aspects.

Therapeutic hypothermia decreases free radical production, inflammation, excitotoxicity and intracranial pressure, and improves cerebral metabolism after traumatic brain injury and cerebral ischemia, thus protecting against central nervous system damage. Although a series of pathological and physiological changes as well as potential side effects are observed during hypothermia treatment, it remains a potential therapeutic strategy for central nervous system injuries and deserves further study.

The review by Rami Dar et al, published in the Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 8, No. 28, 2013), provides clear mechanisms by which therapeutic hypothermia protects against central nervous system injuries. Understanding the positive and negative aspects of hypothermia can optimize protective effects.

More information:
Darwazeh R, Yan Y. Mild hypothermia as a treatment for central nervous system injuries: positive or negative effects? Neural Regen Res. 2013;8(28):2677-2686.

Provided by Neural Regeneration Research