Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive brain injury predominantly associated with motor dysfunction. Perinatal inflammation has been associated with neonatal brain injury and implicated in CP as well as adult neuropsychiatric conditions. We aim to examine multi-organ dysfunction in children with CP by examining detailed cardiac, renal, neurological, haematological and immunological outcomes compared to age-matched controls. We have previously defined detailed multi organ dysfunction (MOD) in Neonatal Encephalopathy (NE) in the neonatal period in infants with NE including organ outcomes as well as serum, urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. Immunological markers such as cytokines and the inflammasome are altered in the neonatal period and preliminary data suggests these are abnormal in children with CP. Quantifying multiorgan dysfunction in CP to ensure appropriate follow-up of all organs is merited and will examine
cytokines and correlating these immune biomarkers with outcomes. This would help in advanced clinical planning and long term follow up. In addition, understanding, the immune response in these children with CP and exploring systemic inflammation holds promise for future development of immunomodulatory adjunctive therapies and biomarkers to predict
outcomes.
