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

on behalf of the Neonatal Research Network of Japan (NRNJ)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1472-1479
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Perinatology
Volume39
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 1 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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