Researcher receives March of Dimes grant: 1/21

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Researcher receives March of Dimes grant

Lakshmi D. Katikaneni, M.D., professor, Department of Neonatology, was awarded a research grant by the March of Dimes South Carolina Chapter. Katikaneni is studying brain damage in newborns that can result from uterine infection in the mother.

According to the March of Dimes, about 5 to 10 percent of pregnant women develop a uterine infection called chorioamnionitis. This infection is a common cause of premature labor. In some cases, this infection also may cause inflammation in the fetal brain, resulting in brain damage, cerebral palsy and learning problems. Katikaneni is studying the effectiveness of new imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging, in detecting and determining the severity of brain injuries in newborns of mothers with chorioamnionitis. Currently used imaging techniques are inadequate for detecting brain injury in the early stages. Earlier diagnosis of brain injuries could allow for prompt treatment to prevent further brain damage and improve the outcome for the child.

Friday, Jan. 21, 2011

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