Immunological aspects in cerebral palsy

Abstract

Until recently, it was not known that permanent sequelae, most of which originated in the perinatal period, were related to immunological changes, either as contributing causal agents or as a consequence of them. This is the case with cerebral palsy (CP) in children and adolescents, which is characterized by motor disorders (tone, posture, and general skeletal and autonomic motor function) resulting from damage to the motor cortex of the brain, its pathways, or the pathways that modulate it. The most common causes (without denying a frequent genetic background) are neonatal: hypoxia, sepsis, ventricular hemorrhages, acute cardiac disorders, dysmetabolism, and malformations. There are some immunological elements to consider that have been detected with altered levels in various chronic neurological pathologies, as well as in sequelae of the nervous system. In this regard, in recent years, some research has been published on the immune response (innate and adaptive), recognition, and release of factors by immune cells in these patients. This review includes findings in CP on cytokines, inflammation, and immunopredictors. It is up to the multidisciplinary team treating children and young people with CP (neurology, physiatry, orthopedics, nutrition, pediatrics, psychology, psychopedagogy, rehabilitation specialists, etc.) to incorporate this information into their analyses and determine its relevance in individualized treatment plans.