Cerebral palsy as a risk factor for epilepsy in children at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by early brain damage and often coexists with epilepsy in children, exacerbating cognitive and motor impairments and leading to a poor prognosis. Risk factors for epilepsy in CP include premature birth, low birth weight, birth trauma, low Apgar scores, focal epilepsy, neonatal seizures, and EEG abnormalities. This study aims to analyze the clinical profile of CP as a risk factor for epilepsy in pediatric CP patients.METHODS: This retrospective case-control utilized medical record data from pediatric patients aged 6 months to 18 years with a diagnosis of CP. Chi-square Tests were performed to compare clinical profiles with the incidence of epilepsy in CP patients.RESULTS: There was no significant relationship between gestational age (P=0.804) and birth weight (P=0.752) with the incidence of epilepsy in CP patients. However, a significant association was found between a history of neonatal seizures and the incidence of epilepsy in CP patients (P<0.001), with an odds ratio of 13.807, indicating a 13.8-fold higher risk of epilepsy in children with a history of neonatal seizures compared to those without.CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric CP patients with a history of neonatal seizures are more likely to develop epilepsy than those without a history of seizures. The clinical profile of CP accompanied with epilepsy is significantly associated with a history of neonatal seizures, but not with birth weight or gestational age. Children with a history of neonatal seizures are at a 13.8 times greater risk of developing CP with epilepsy.

Access to Document

Other files and links

• Link to publication in Scopus

Fingerprint