A baby born at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has become the first baby to get a cannabis-derived medicine in a trial to help those born with a condition that can lead to brain damage.
Oscar Parodi was born with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), which means a lack of oxygen or blood flow from the placenta to the baby. Oscar was born by emergency Caesarean on 11 March when he was three days overdue.
As part of his treatment, Oscar will be given a dose of the study’s cannabis-based drug. This is the first time it has been used to try to prevent seizures in a baby with HIE.
Researchers led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, hope the drug could one day be used routinely in neonatal care to help babies at risk of seizures and brain injury.
Chelsea Parodi, 17, agreed for her son to be part of the study as she said, “I wanted to do everything I could to help my baby boy.”
Oscar had been transferred to the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) and put into 72 hours of cooling treatment to protect his brain. His whole body temperature was reduced to 33.5 degrees using a special jacket like a wine cooler.
The baby was given a single intravenous dose of the drug, less than 12 hours after he was born.