The risk of developing brain damage is greater in preterm babies. However, according to a new study, administering the doping hormone EPO can help in reducing the risk.

Currently preterm babies are given EPO in order to reduce the risk of needing a blood transfusion. The production of red blood cells and hemoglobin is increased by the EPO.

Preterm birth can lead to incomplete maturation of brain and brain damage and result in learning and attention difficulties and hearing and visual problems. It may particularly affect the white matter of the brain.

High-dose erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone that is generally used for treatment of anemia in patients with kidney disease. According to recent studies, EPO consists of a neuroprotective quality - it can help protect the central nervous system from degradation or injury.

Hence, as the first part of a major Swiss study on cognitive development, EPO's effect or neuroprotection in preterm infants was investigated.

The initial research was conducted by a team of specialists from Faculty of Medicine at University of Geneva (UNIGE) and University of Hospital of Geneva (HUG) in Switzerland. The Swiss National Science Foundation sponsored the study.

The research was conducted with 495 preterm infants who were to receive three doses of either EPO or a placebo shortly after birth. It was found that at term equivalent age preterm infants who were given EPO doses had fewer abnormal scores for gray matter injury,, white matter injury, periventricular white matter loss and white matter signal intensity.

The study is only a part of a larger research. Although the initial findings are interesting, the main findings are still to come. The findings may prove to be of key importance in future.