Significance of Seizures in Infants Weighing Less Than 2,500 Grams

Abstract

We review the records of 153 infants weighing 2,500 gm or less admitted consecutivtly to the University of Utah Medical Center Newborn Intensive Care Unit. Thirty-one (20.2%) infants had seizures and 28 (90%) of these died. In comparison, only 17% (21 of 122) of patients without seizures died. The diagnosis of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) was made in 27 (87%) of the seizure patients. These findings differ significantly from those studies in which no distinction was made between the birth weight of neonates with seizures. Anticonvulsant medication had little effect on clinical seizure activity and did not significantly alter the outcome.