[No Title Available]

Abstract

Background: The technological advances in perinatal care have been promoting the survival of preterm and term newborns. Morbidity, however, remains high, determining serious neurological sequelae, including epilepsy.Objectives: To study the incidence-density (ID) of epilepsy in a population of newborns inpacients with neonatal seizures. To describe possible aetiological factors related to neonatal seizures as well as neurophysiological abnormalities observed. To relate clinical and neurophysiological variables that could influence pos-natal epilepsy development.Design: Retrospective and prospective cohort study. Method: A hundred twenty seven newborns inpatients (preterm and term), at The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of São Lucas Hospital, PUCRS -Brazil. The time period analyzed goes from January 1987 to Decembre 1997. All of them with clinically defined seizures. Data of gestation, perinatal period and neonatal seizures were obtained retrospectively. Polygraphic recordings (PR) were analyzed by experts in neonatal EEG-tracings. Detailed questionnaires were prospectively collected for all infants with neonatal seizures, after informed consent.