[Neonatal seizures and progression to epilepsy in a tertiary hospital]

INTRODUCTION

Given the immaturity of the newborn, neonatal seizures are a diagnostic challenge. Most of them are secondary to an acute event. A small percentage constitute the onset of epilepsy.

AIMS

The aim was to analyse neonates with a diagnosis of seizures admitted to a tertiary hospital between November 2009 and May 2021, and their subsequent progression to epilepsy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective observational study was carried out using the hospital database. Information was collected on neonates with a discharge diagnosis of 'seizures' or 'moderate or severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy'. Different variables were analysed: aetiology of the seizures, type, persistence over time, treatment and electroclinical correlates.

RESULTS

Of 165 patients, 55 presented neonatal seizures. As regards aetiology, 43 patients (78%) had seizures secondary to an acute event, of which 19 (34%) were hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathies, and 22 (40%) had other acute disorders. Genetic alteration was found in six of them (11%). Thirteen patients (24%) progressed to subsequent epilepsy, of whom seven had symptomatic epilepsy, with a period of latency after the acute event in two patients. Six patients had neonatal epilepsy with unprovoked seizures. Twenty-two (62%) showed electroclinical correlates. All of the confirmed crises (100%) were focal. All the seizures were treated. The drug of choice was phenobarbital.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis of neonatal seizures requires high clinical suspicion and electroclinical confirmation. Most of them progress favourably, but a percentage constitute the onset of epilepsy, the identification of which will determine their therapeutic management.