Epilepsy After Neonatal Seizures: Etiologies, Clinical and Developmental Outcomes

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The newborn period has the highest risk of seizures and the majority of these seizures are symptomatic. Children with neonatal seizures have a higher risk of epilepsy. The aim of the present study was to identify etiological factors, clinical characteristics, and seizure control in children with epilepsy with a history of neonatal seizures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children who were diagnosed with epilepsy between January, 2014 and January, 2021 were evaluated. Among 220 epileptic children, the ones who had a history of newborn seizures and a follow-up of more than 5 years were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: Among the 41 patients, 14 (34.1%) were girls and 27 (65.9%) were boys. The mean age at the diagnosis of epilepsy was 3.2 months. Etiological factors were demonstrated in 26 (63.4%) of the patients. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was the main cause and it was reported in 13 (31.7%) patients. Twenty-five (61%) patients had both mental and motor retardation, whereas 1 (2.4%) patient only had mental retardation. Abnormal findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were documented in 27 (65.9%) of the patients. A statistically significant association was found among mental motor retardation and the presence of abnormality on MRI scans. Seizures were controlled in 27 (65.9%) of the patients, whereas 14 (34.1%) of the patients had refractory seizures. CONCLUSION: Epileptic children with previous neonatal-onset seizures had a higher incidence of mental motor retardation and refractory epilepsy. The onset age of epilepsy was during early infancy. Abnormal findings on MRI scans were warning signs for poor prognosis and related to mental and motor retardation, but not related to seizure control.