Association of perinatal factors of epilepsy in very low birth weight infants, using a nationwide database in Japan

Abstract

Abstract Objective To determine clinical features of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) who had developed epilepsy by age 3 years. Study design Multicenter cohort study using the Neonatal Research Network of Japan database. We analyzed clinical variables of 8431 VLBWIs who had recorded data of neurological sequelae at age 3 years. Logistic regression identified the association between variables and development of epilepsy. Result One hundred and forty-three (1.7%) infants developed epilepsy, 683 (8.1%) showed cerebral palsy (CP), and 1114 (13.2%) had psychomotor delay. Epilepsy was associated with history of sepsis [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.23], severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH; AOR 5.13), and cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL; AOR 12.7). Severe IVH and cystic PVL were also frequently associated with CP and psychomotor delay. Conclusion Severe IVH and cystic PVL are strongly associated with development of epilepsy, as well as other neurological sequelae, and are potential critical therapeutic targets.