[Risk factors for fetal and neonatal brain injury].

Epidemiological studies have suggested a strong association of fetal and neonatal brain damage with fetal infections and free radical release. Intrauterine infection and hypoxia ischemia appear to share some characteristics, including high levels of cytokines and adhesion molecules. The relevance of the actions of cytokines to a variety of neurological disorders has opened a potentially fruitful area of research and therapeutic development.