The newborn with seizures -- a follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE To determine the sequelae of neonatal seizures in a cohort of newborns, recruited over a six month period. DESIGN Prospective hospital based study. SETTING The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS 135 babies were recruited of whom 10 died and 25 were lost to follow up. METHODS The cases were followed up over four months. RESULTS 68% of the babies followed up were normal; 32% had an abnormal neurological outcome. Seven (7%) developed post-neonatal epilepsy. Hypocalcemia was significantly associated with mortality (OR: 21.9; 95% CI: 1.2-391.2). No risk factors could be identified for post neonatal epilepsy. Presence of spike waves in the EEG was significantly related to abnormal neurological outcome (OR: 3.5; 95% C.I. 1.2-10.8). CONCLUSIONS Majority of neonates with seizures have a normal outcome with no developmental delay or neurological deficit. Predominantly spike waves in the EEG is predictive of abnormal neurological outcome.