Seizures and epilepsy in children with intracerebral hemorrhage

In a study conducted at three tertiary care pediatric hospitals, Lauren A. Beslow, M.D., M.S.C.E., of the of the Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., and colleagues examined the incidence and risk factors for seizures and epilepsy in children with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (Online First).

Seizures are thought to be a common presenting symptom in newborns and children with spontaneous ICH, but few data are available regarding the causes of acute symptomatic seizures or the risk for later epilepsy, according to the study background.

The study, which was conducted between March 2007 and January 2012, included 73 pediatric patients with spontaneous ICH including 20 perinatal patients (age greater or equal to 37 weeks gestation to 28 days) and 53 childhood patients (age greater than 28 days to less than 18 years).

Acute symptomatic seizures occurred in 35 patients (48 percent), according to the study results.

“Single remote symptomatic seizures occur in many, and development of epilepsy is estimated to occur in 13 percent of patients at two years. Elevated intracranial pressure requiring acute intervention is a risk factor for acute seizures after presentation, remote symptomatic seizures and epilepsy,” the study concludes.

Source: JAMA