Abstract
Seizures are the clinical expression of a vast array of pathology in the neonatal period, from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy to infections and metabolic derangements. Neonatal seizures have unique semiology and frequently occur without clear clinical symptoms. This chapter summarizes the presentation, etiology, and treatment of neonatal seizures.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Glass HC, Shellhaas RA, Wusthoff CJ, et al. Contemporary profile of seizures in neonates: a prospective cohort study. J Pediatr. 2016;174:98–103.
Tekgul H, Gauvreau K, Soul J. The current etiologic profile and neurodevelopmental outcome of seizures in term newborn infants. Pediatrics. 2006;17(4):1270–80.
Garcias Da Silva LF, Nunes ML, da Costa JC. Risk factors for developing epilepsy after neonatal seizures. Pediatr Neurol. 2004;30:271–7.
Garfinkle J, Shevell MI. Cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and epilepsy after neonatal seizures. Pediatr Neurol. 2011;44:88–96.
Mellits ED, Holden KR, Freeman JM. Neonatal Seizures II. A multivariate analysis of factors associated with outcome. Pediatrics. 1982;70(2):177–85.
Holmes GL. Effects of seizures on brain development: lessons from the laboratory. Pediatr Neurol. 2005;33:1–11.
Van Rooij LGM, Toet MC, van Huffelen AC. Effect of treatment of subclinical neonatal Seizures detected with aEEG: randomized. Controlled Trial Pediatrics. 2010;125(2):e358–66.
Hellstrom-Westas L, Boylan G, Agren J. Systematic review of neonatal seizure management strategies provides guidance on anti-epileptic treatment. Acta Paediatr. 2015;104(2):123–9.
Volpe JJ. Neonatal seizures in neurology of the newborn. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. p. 203–44.
Facini C, Spagnoli C, Pisani F. Epileptic and non-epileptic paroxysmal motor phenomena in newborns. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016;29(22):3652.
Mizrahi EM, Kellaway P. Characterization and classification of neonatal seizures. Neurology. 1987;37:1837–44.
Murray DM, et al. Defining the gap between electrographic seizure burden, clinical expression and staff recognition of neonatal seizures. Ach Dis Child Fetal Neonatal. 2008;93:F187–91.
Shellhaas RA, Chang T, Tsuchida T. The American clinical neurophysiology society’s guideline on continuous electroencephalography monitoring in neonates. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2011;28(6):611–7.
Allen NM, et al. The variable phenotypes of KCNQ-related epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2014;55(9):e99–105.
Axeen EJT, Olson HE. Neonatal epilepsy genetics. Seminars Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018;23(3):197–203.
Hallberg B, Blennow M. Investigations for neonatal seizures. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2013;18(4):196–201.
Ficicioglu C, Bearden M. Isolated neonatal seizures: when to suspect inborn errors of metabolism. Pediatr Neurol. 2011;2011(45):283–91.
Pisani F, Percesepe A, Spagnoli C. Genetic diagnosis in neonatal-onset epilepsies: Back to the future. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2018;22(3):354–7.
Bittigau P, Sifringer M, Ikonomidou C. Antiepileptic drugs and apoptosis in the developing brain. Ann New York Acad Sci. 2003;993:103–14.
Donovan MD, Griffin BT, Kharoshankaya L, Cryan JF, Boylan GB. Pharmacotherapy for neonatal seizures: current knowledge and future perspectives. Drugs. 2016;76(6):647–61.
Boylan GB, et al. Second-line anticonvulsant treatment of neonatal seizures. Neurology. 2004;63:486–8.
Painter MJ, et al. Phenobarbital compared with phenytoin for the treatment of neonatal seizures. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:485–9.
Sharpe C, Reiner GE, Davis SL. Levetiracetam versus phenobarbital for neonatal Seizures: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2020;145(6):e20193182.
Gospe SM. Neonatal vitamin-responsive epileptic encephalopathies. Chang Gung Med J. 2010;33:1–12.
Puneet J, Sharma S, Dua T. Efficacy and safety of anti-epileptic drugs in patients with active convulsive seizures when no IV access is available: systematic review and meta-analysis. Epilepsy Res. 2016;122:47–55.
Booth D, Evan DJ. Anticonvulsants for neonates with seizures. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;3:CD004218.
Bergman A, et al. Neuronal losses in mice following both prenatal and neonatal exposure to phenobarbital. Acta Anat. 1982;114:185–92.
Fishman RHB, et al. Ultrastructural evidence of long-lasting cerebellar degeneration after early exposure to phenobarbital in mice. Exp Neurol. 1983;79:212–20.
Pick CG, Yanai J. Long-term reduction in eight arm maze performance after early exposure to phenobarbital. Int J Dev Neurosci. 1985;3:223–7.
Schain RJ, Watanabe K. Effect of chronic phenobarbital administration upon brain growth of the infant rat. Exp Neurol. 1975;47:509–17.
Yanai J, et al. Neural and behavioral alterations after early exposure to phenobarbital. Neurotoxicology. 1989;10:543–54.
Dessens AB, et al. Association of prenatal phenobarbital and phenytoin exposure with small head size at birth and with learning problems. Acta Pediatrics. 2000;89(5):533–41.
Farwell JR, et al. Phenobarbital for febrile seizures—effects on intelligence and on seizure recurrence. NEJM. 1990;322:364–9.
Dzhala VI, et al. NKCC1 transporter facilitates seizures in the developing brain. Nat Med. 2005;11(11):1205–13.
Dzhala VI, et al. Bumetanide enhances phenobarbital efficacy in neonatal seizure model. Ann Neurol. 2008;63:222–35.
Kahle KT. Decreased seizures activity in a human neonate treated with bumetanide. J Child Neuro. 2009;24:572–6.
Pressler RM, Boylan GB, Marlow N. Bumetanide for the treatment of seizures in newborn babies with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (NEMO): an open-label, dose finding, and feasibility phase 1/2 trial. Lancet Neurol. 2015;14:469–77.
Law AJ, Weickert CS, Webster MJ. Expression of NMDA receptor NR1, NR2A,and NR2B subunit mRNAs during development of the human hippocampal formation. Eur J Neurosci. 2003;18:1197–205.
Jansen FE. Developmental factors regulating susceptibility to perinatal brain injury and seizures. Current Op Pediatrics. 2006;18:628–33.
Glass HC, et al. Topiramate for the treatment of neonatal seizures. Pediatr Neurol. 2011;44:439–42.
Glier C, et al. Therapeutic doses of topiramate are not toxic to the developing rat brain. Exp Neurol. 2004;187:403–9.
Jensen FE, Blume H, Alvarado S, Firkusny I, Geary C. NBQX blocks acute and late epileptogenic effects of perinatal hypoxia. Epilepsia. 1995;36(10):966–72.
Manthey D, et al. Sulthiame but not levetiracetam exerts neurotoxic effect in the developing rat brain. Exp Neurol. 2005;193:497–503.
Abend NS. Levetiracetam for the treatment of neonatal seizures. J Child Neurol online edition. 2011.
Fuhrwentsches A. Levetiracetam in the treatment of neonatal seizures: a pilot study. Seizure. 2010;19:185–9.
Khan O. Use of intravenous Levetiracetam for Management of Acute Seizures in neonates. Pediatr Neurol. 2011;44:265–9.
Khan O, et al. Role of intravenous levetiracetam for acute seizure management in preterm neonates. Pediatr Neurol. 2013;49(5):340–3.
Picker M, Thomas J, Koch C, Ramantani G, et al. Levetiracetam: safety and efficacy in neonatal seizures. Eur J Pediatr Neurol. 2011;15:1–7.
Rakshasbhuvankar A, et al. Intravenous levetiracetam for treatment of neonatal seizures. J Clin Neurosci. 2013;20(8):1165–7.
Shoemaker MT. Levetiracetam for the treatment of neonatal seizures. J Child Neurol. 2007;22(1):95–8.
Guillet R, Kwon JM. Prophylactic phenobarbital administration after resolution of neonatal Seizures: survey of current practice. Pediatrics. 2008;122(4):731–5.
World Health Organization. Guidelines on neonatal seizures. 2011.
Holden KR, Mellits ED, Freeman JM. Neonatal Seizures 1. Correlation of prenatal and perinatal events with outcomes. Pediatrics. 1982;70(2):165–76.
Wirrell EC, Armstrong EA, Osman LD. Prolonged Seizures exacerbate perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. Pediatr Res. 2001;50:445–54.
Vannucci RC, Towfighi J, Brucklacher RM, Vannucci SJ. Effect of extreme hypercapnia on hypoxic–ischemic brain damage in the immature rat. Pediatr Res. 2001;49:799–803.
Miller SP, Weiss BS, Barnwell A. et al. Seizure-associated brain injury in term newborns with perinatal asphyxia.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dredge, D.C. (2022). Neonatal Seizures. In: Dredge, D.C. (eds) Handbook of Pediatric Epilepsy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08290-5_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08290-5_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-08289-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-08290-5
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)