1 in 5 newborns with neonatal seizures to develop epilepsy by age one: Study

One in five or 20 per cent of newborns with neonatal seizures will go on to develop epilepsy by age one finds a study on Wednesday Seizures in newborns are one of the most frequent acute neurological conditions among infants admitted to neonatal care unitsResearchers from the Copenhagen University Hospital ndash Rigshospitalet in Denmark showed that after neonatal seizures the risk of epilepsy is persistently increased throughout adolescence The team analysed data on all 1998 children born in the country who experienced neonatal seizuresThe results published in the journal Developmental Medicine amp Child Neurology showed that the cumulative risk of epilepsy was 204 per cent among children with neonatal seizures compared with 115 per cent among children withoutAmong these children epilepsy was diagnosed before 1 year of age in 114 per cent of children with neonatal seizures in an additional 45 per cent between 1 and 5 years 31 per cent between 5 and 10 years and 14 per cent between 10 and 22 years Stroke haemorrhage or structural brain malformations in newborns as well as low scores on the Apgar test Appearance Pulse Grimace Activity and Respiration were associated with the highest risks of developing epilepsyNeonatal seizures are often caused by acute cerebral injury or stress such as hypoxicischaemic encephalopathy stroke and cerebral infection as well as transient and reversible brain alterations of metabolic or toxic origin however congenital brain malformations and genetic disorders are also recognised causesFurthermore the study showed that the risk of epilepsy after neonatal seizures was highest among those with cerebral malformation or perinatal brain injury although children with perinatal asphyxia lack of oxygen alone also had an increased riskIn addition the risk of febrile seizures convulsions caused by a fever was also significantly higher in neonatal survivors with neonatal seizures although not to the same extent as the risk for epilepsyldquoOur study highlights that there are risk factors that may be used to identify infants for tailored followup and preventive measuresrdquo said Jeanette Tinggaard from the varsityldquoImportantly four out of five neonatal survivors with a history of neonatal seizures did not develop epilepsy and we suggest future studies to explore a potential genetic predispositionrdquo Tinggaard addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever