Revisiting thyroid hormone treatment to prevent brain damage of prematurity

Controversies in preterm brain injury

“…Much preclinical and clinical research has focused on the potential for T4 to promote preterm neurodevelopment (Osborn and Hunt 2007, Osborn and Hunt 2007, Schang, Gressens et al 2014), particularly with the recent recognition of the continued contribution of maternal thyroid hormone to brain development in the third trimester of pregnancy (Berbel, Navarro et al 2010). In preterm human brain tissue and in an animal model of preterm brain injury, levels of TH-activating enzyme deiodinase-2 are reduced (Vose, Vinukonda et al 2013).…”

Neuroprotection of the preterm brain

“…Based on the fact that preterm infants are somewhat deprived of thyroid hormones that are important for OPC maturation, a supplementation of T3/T4 has been suggested. However, animal models have shown a failure of T3/T4 to improve the myelin status (124,125). Targets identified in MS animal models and currently tested in clinical trials include histamine-3 receptor(126) that was recently shown to be neuroprotective as well in a model of EP (Gressens and Chuang, unpublished data).…”