Seizures and cerebral infarction in the full‐term newborn

Abstract

Cerebral arterial infarction is a more common cause of neonatal seizures than has previously appreciated. In 50 full‐term newborns with seizures studied, 7 had cerebral infaction which was the secondmost common definable cause of seizures. We describe these 7 ful‐term infants with cerebrovascular accidents who presented with focal or generalized seizures. Onstetrical histories were normal in 5 of these patients. Their neurological examinations demonstrated lethargy and generalized hypotania. Electroencephalograms demonstrated focal abnormalities in 4 infants. Computed tomographic scans in the first week of life showed infarction in 6 newborns and in another at age 6 months. Neonatal stroke should be considered as a cause of seizures in a full‐term newborn in spite of a normal obstetrical history and a nonfocal neurological examination.