Annemiek M W Loman1, Henk J ter Horst2, Florise A C P Lambrechtsen3, Roelineke J Lunsing4. 1. Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 2. Division of Neonatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Obstetrics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Child Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 EZ Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.j.lunsing@umcg.nl.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Neonatal seizures are an alarming symptom and are frequent in neonates. It is important to find the cause of neonatal seizures to start a specific treatment and to give a meaningful prognosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of different aetiologies of neonatal seizures in our hospital by a specific work-up. METHODS: All full-term born neonates from January 2002 till September 2009 with neonatal seizures, admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit were included (n = 221). Aetiology was investigated by means of a standardized aetiologic work-up. RESULTS: The frequencies of aetiologies of neonatal seizures were: hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (n = 119; 53.9%), metabolic or electrolyte disorders (n = 24; 10.9%), intracranial hemorrhage (n = 20; 9.0%), ischemic infarction (n = 16; 7.2%), intracranial infections (n = 14; 6.3%), congenital malformations of the central nervous system (n = 7; 3.2%), inborn errors of metabolism (n = 5; 2.3%), epileptic syndromes (n = 1; 0.5%), HIE + hypoglycemia (n = 4; 1.8%), HIE + intracranial hemorrhage (n = 3; 1.4%), HIE + ischemic infarction (n = 1; 0.5%), ischemic infarction + intracranial hemorrhage (n = 1; 0.5%), idiopathic (n = 4, 1.8%), intoxications (n = 1; 0.5%) and unknown (n = 1; 0.5%). CONCLUSION: Our work-up is a practical tool to find the aetiology of neonatal seizures.
UNLABELLED: Neonatal seizures are an alarming symptom and are frequent in neonates. It is important to find the cause of neonatal seizures to start a specific treatment and to give a meaningful prognosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of different aetiologies of neonatal seizures in our hospital by a specific work-up. METHODS: All full-term born neonates from January 2002 till September 2009 with neonatal seizures, admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit were included (n = 221). Aetiology was investigated by means of a standardized aetiologic work-up. RESULTS: The frequencies of aetiologies of neonatal seizures were: hypoxic-ischemicencephalopathy (HIE) (n = 119; 53.9%), metabolic or electrolyte disorders (n = 24; 10.9%), intracranial hemorrhage (n = 20; 9.0%), ischemic infarction (n = 16; 7.2%), intracranial infections (n = 14; 6.3%), congenital malformations of the central nervous system (n = 7; 3.2%), inborn errors of metabolism (n = 5; 2.3%), epileptic syndromes (n = 1; 0.5%), HIE + hypoglycemia (n = 4; 1.8%), HIE + intracranial hemorrhage (n = 3; 1.4%), HIE + ischemic infarction (n = 1; 0.5%), ischemic infarction + intracranial hemorrhage (n = 1; 0.5%), idiopathic (n = 4, 1.8%), intoxications (n = 1; 0.5%) and unknown (n = 1; 0.5%). CONCLUSION: Our work-up is a practical tool to find the aetiology of neonatal seizures.