Water on the brain: towards the first ever drug treatment

Babies who are born very prematurely are at high risk of bleeds to the brain, which can result in hydrocephalus (water on the brain). There are several hundred new cases of hydrocephalus each year in the UK, which often lead to cerebral palsy and life-long health problems. Researchers are searching for the first ever safe, effective drug therapy.

What's the problem and who does it affect?

Very premature babies can develop water on the brain

Improvements in the care of very premature babies mean more babies are surviving. But these tiny babies are still at high risk of serious illness. Bleeding in the brain, because the blood vessels are weak in infants born too early, is all too common and can cause permanent problems.

A major complication of a large bleed is hydrocephalus, also known as 'water on the brain'. Blood clots block the flow, and hinder the drainage, of the watery fluid that normally circulates within and around the brain. Too much water is left inside the brain, and the baby's head will become enlarged, causing an increased pressure, which may damage the brain.1
A safe, effective treatment remains elusive

There is no cure for water on the brain. About two-thirds of babies with water on the brain sadly go on to develop either cerebral palsy, cognitive disabilities, epilepsy, or become blind or deaf. 2,3

Even babies that escape these complications, face the prospect of a lifetime of dependence on a shunt - a special tube inserted surgically to drain surplus fluid from the brain to the abdomen. Unfortunately, shunts themselves can cause complications, such as infection or blockage, leading to increased pressure and further brain injury.