The Incidence of Acute and Remote Seizures in Children with Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Abstract

Seizures are a well-known complication of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in premature infants; however, the rate at which they occur is not known. The authors decided, therefore, to investigate both the incidence of acute and remote seizures in infants with IVH and the association with the grade of hemorrhage. One hundred and three infants with IVH were identified and their records were reviewed for acute seizures, remote seizures, and associated morbidity and mortality. The average gestational age of these infants was 29 weeks (range, 23-40 weeks). Of the 103 infants, 32 (31%) developed grade 4 IVH; 19 (18%), grade 3 IVH; and 52 (50%), grades 1 and 2 1VH. Seventeen (17%) patients had acute seizures during their first month of life. Six of the 61 patients (10%) who survived the neonatal period and for whom follow-up data were available had, remote seizures. Infants with grade 4 IVH had significantly more acute seizures than infants with grades 1 and 2. In this cohort, only infants with grades 3 and 4 IVH developed remote seizures. Furthermore, among infants with grade 4 IVH acute seizures were a significant risk factor for development of remote seizures. The use of long-term antiepileptic drug therapy in neonates with a history of acute seizures is not established. These results suggest that antiepileptic drug therapy beyond the neonatal period should be reserved for infants with grade 4 IVH with history of acute seizures.