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Updated: May 21, 2026
Application of an Amplitude-integrated EEG Monitor (Cerebral Function Monitor) to Neonates
Published on: September 6, 2017
Prognosis of EEG findings in infancy
Salah Almubarak1, Peter K H Wong
1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, National Neuroscience Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Early EEG abnormalities in infants strongly predict unfavorable neurological outcomes and epilepsy. These findings challenge existing views on the prognostic significance of specific EEG patterns, emphasizing their importance for long-term prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) is crucial for assessing infant brain function.
- The prognostic value of early EEG abnormalities requires ongoing evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate specific early EEG abnormalities with long-term neurological and epilepsy outcomes in infants.
- To re-evaluate the prognostic significance of early EEG findings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 358 infants with EEGs between 3-12 months.
- Long-term clinical follow-up assessments conducted between 4-18 years of age.
Main Results:
- Significant EEG abnormalities in infancy were associated with unfavorable neurological outcomes (UNO) and epilepsy.
- Major abnormal EEG background, abnormal sleep potentials, interictal/ictal epileptiform activity, and markedly abnormal overall EEG impressions all showed high rates of UNO and epilepsy.
Conclusions:
- Early EEG abnormalities in the first year of life are strong predictors of long-term unfavorable neurological outcomes and epilepsy.
- The prognostic significance of certain EEG abnormalities, such as interictal spikes, warrants reconsideration.
Objective:
To determine how specific early EEG abnormalities correlate with clinical outcome on long-term follow-up for neurological and epilepsy outcomes. Our aim was to revisit how early EEG abnormalities should be weighed for prognosis.
Methods:
This is a retrospective study of 358 infants who had EEGs taken between 3 and 12 months of age and subsequent clinical assessment between 4 to 18 years of age.
Result:
Of the 358 infants, 215 had unfavorable neurological outcome (UNO), and 234 had epilepsy on follow-up. Breakdown: 117 had major abnormal EEG background of which 86% had UNO and 75% had epilepsy. One hundred had abnormal sleep potentials of which 89% had UNO and 80% had epilepsy. One hundred seventy-five had interictal epileptiform activity of which 80% had UNO and epilepsy. Sixty had ictal epileptiform activity of which 90% had UNO and 86% had epilepsy. One hundred ninety-two had markedly abnormal overall EEG impression of which 80% had UNO and 79% had epilepsy.
Conclusions:
Occurrence of significant EEG abnormalities in the first year was clearly associated with UNO and epilepsy. Current views that certain EEG abnormalities (e.g., interictal spike) may have little prognostic significance would need to be revisited.
