Does nitric oxide reduce fetal brain injury

To verify whether nitric oxide supplementation is able to prevent brain injury in growth retarded fetuses, we have studied 19 pregnant women with IUGR fetuses randomly selected to receive either transdermal glyceryl trinitrate or placebo. Ten uncomplicated pregnancies matched for gestational age represented the control group. IUGR fetuses not treated showed higher concentrations of S-100 than control group whereas S-100 levels in treated IUGR fetuses were not different from control group, but they were significantly lower (p<0.01) than those found in not treated IUGR fetuses. Clinical outcome showed a reduction of brain dysfunction signs in treated fetuses. Reduction of S-100 protein levels in IUGR fetuses treated with NO demonstrates that improvement in utero-placental circulation may allow to prevent fetal abnormal haemodynamics response which causes brain damage