Autologous Cord Blood Cell Therapy for Neonatal Encephalopathy

Inclusion Criteria: Infants are eligible if they meet all the following inclusion criteria except 4.

1. ≥36 weeks gestation

2. Either a 10-minute Apgar score ≤5, continued need for resuscitation for at least 10minutes, or severe acidosis, defined as pH <7.0 or base deficit ≥16 mmol/L in a sampleof umbilical cord blood or any blood during the first hour after birth

3. Moderate to severe encephalopathy (Sarnat II to III)

4. A moderately or severely abnormal background amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) voltage,or seizures identified by aEEG, if monitored

5. Up to 24 hours of age

6. Autologous umbilical cord blood available to infuse within 3 days after birth

7. A person with parental authority must have consented for the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Known major congenital anomalies, such as chromosomal anomalies, heart diseases

2. Major intracranial hemorrhage identified by brain ultrasonography or computedtomography

3. Severe growth restriction, with birth-weight less than 1800 g

4. Severe infectious disease, such as sepsis

5. Hyperkalemia

6. Outborn infants (Infants born at hospitals other than the study sites)

7. Volume of collected cord blood <40 ml

8. Infants judged critically ill and unlikely to benefit from neonatal intensive care bythe attending neonatologist