The Effect and Significance of Mild Hypothermia Adjuvant Therapy on Serum IL-6 and TNF-α in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Objective: To investigate the effect of systemic mild hypothermia therapy on peripheral blood interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) within 6 hours after birth. Methods: Forty neonates with HIE within 6 hours after birth, who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Shangqiu First People's Hospital in Henan Province from October 2021 to October 2023, were selected as the research objects. They were divided into the mild hypothermia group and the conventional treatment group according to the treatment method. The children in the conventional treatment group received conventional supportive treatment, while those in the mild hypothermia group were given head mild hypothermia treatment and conventional supportive treatment. Peripheral blood IL-6 and TNF-α were measured in all children at admission and 72 hours after treatment. Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) scale scores were performed at 14 and 28 days after birth. Results: There was no significant difference in the levels of blood IL-6 and TNF-α in HIE children of the conventional treatment group 72 hours after treatment compared with those at admission (P > 0.05). 2. The levels of blood IL-6 and TNF-α in HIE children of the mild hypothermia group 72 hours after treatment were significantly lower than those at admission (P < 0.05). 3. 72 hours after treatment, the levels of blood IL-6 and TNF-α in moderate HIE children of the mild hypothermia group were significantly lower than those in moderate HIE children of the conventional treatment group (P < 0.05). 4. 72 hours after treatment, the levels of blood IL-6 and TNF-α in severe HIE children of the mild hypothermia group were significantly lower than those in severe HIE children of the conventional treatment group (P < 0.05). 5. At 14 and 28 days after birth, the NBNA scores of HIE children in the mild hypothermia group were significantly higher than those in the conventional treatment group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Head mild hypothermia treatment for HIE children within 6 hours after birth has an obvious effect. Head mild hypothermia treatment can reduce the levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α in HIE children, inhibit the indirect neurotoxic effect caused by the increase of IL-6 and TNF-α levels, play a role in brain protection, improve the NBNA score, and obtain a better prognosis.