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Review
. 2024 Feb 18;6(1):5.
doi: 10.1186/s42494-024-00151-w.

Acute symptomatic seizures in newborns: a narrative review

Carlotta Spagnoli  1 , Francesco Pisani  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Acute symptomatic seizures in newborns: a narrative review

Carlotta Spagnoli et al. Acta Epileptol. .

Abstract

Acute symptomatic seizures are the main sign of neurological dysfunction in newborns. This is linked to the unique characteristics of the neonatal brain, making it hyperexcitable compared to older ages, and to the common occurrence of some forms of acquired brain injury, namely hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. In this narrative review we will provide an overview of neonatal seizures definition, their main underlying etiologies, diagnostic work-up and differential diagnoses, and will discuss about therapeutic options and prognostic outlook. The latest publications from the ILAE Task Force on Neonatal Seizures will be presented and discussed. Of note, they highlight the current lack of robust evidence in this field of clinical neurology. We will also report on specificities pertaining to low-and-middle income countries in terms of incidence, main etiologies and diagnosis. The possibilities offered by telemedicine and automated seizures detection will also be summarized in order to provide a framework for future directions in seizures diagnosis and management with a global perspective. Many challenges and opportunities for improving identification, monitoring and treatment of acute symptomatic seizures in newborns exist. All current caveats potentially represent different lines of research with the aim to provide better care and reach a deeper understanding of this important topic of neonatal neurology.

Keywords: Acute symptomatic; Diagnosis; EEG; Etiologies; Neonatal seizures; Newborn; Outcome.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: Author Carlotta Spagnoli is the member of the Editorial Board for Acta Epileptologica, who was not involved in the journal’s review of, or decisions related to this manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Current ILAE classification of neonatal seizures
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Main etiologies of seizures in newborns
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Diagnostic work-up for seizures in newborns
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Flow-chart for seizures treatment (modified from Gotman J, et al [84])
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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