Seizure recurrence in infants with neonatal convulsions. A follow-up study

Twenty three infants with neonatal seizures were followed prospectively to a mean age of 11 months. Only 2 were pre-term and birth weight ranged from 1700 to 4230 grams, with 17 male and 6 female infants. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was the most common etiology (82.6%). Focal clonic convulsions were the predominant seizure type, present in 7/16 infants in which the seizure type could be identified. All infants had a neurological examination and EEG, and 18 had a cranial ultrasonography performed at the follow-up. Anticonvulsant medication was discontinued, if follow-up EEG and neurological examination were normal. At the follow-up, seizure recurrence was observed in 7/23 (30%) infants. Abnormal EEG, neurological examination and cranial ultrasonography were statistically correlated with seizure recurrence. We conclude that infants with neonatal seizures can remain free of anticonvulsant medication provided they have normal neurological examination, EEG and cranial ultrasonography.