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Regional cerebral blood flow during seizures in neonates
1Department of Neonatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
Insights
Neonatal seizures, both clinical and electrical, cause focal cerebral hyperperfusion. This increased blood flow in specific brain regions during seizures is similar to that observed in adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Recurrent seizures in infants pose significant diagnostic and management challenges.
- Understanding the neurophysiological changes during neonatal seizures is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) changes during ictal (seizure) and interictal (between seizures) periods in infants with recurrent seizures.
- To compare ictal rCBF in neonates with findings in adults.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 99mTc-D,L,-hexamethylpropylenamine oxime (HMPAO) for radiolabeling.
- Employed single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to measure regional cerebral blood flow.
- Compared rCBF data from 12 infants during seizures with 9 interictal studies.
Main Results:
- Infants experiencing clinical or electrical seizures demonstrated focal cerebral hyperperfusion.
- The degree of hyperperfusion in neonates was comparable to that previously reported in adults.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal seizures are associated with significant, focal increases in cerebral blood flow.
- These findings suggest a shared pathophysiological mechanism of ictal hyperperfusion across different age groups.
Abstract:
With the use of 99mTc-D, L,-hexamethylpropylenamine oxime and single photon emission computed tomography, regional cerebral blood flow was measured ictally in 12 mature infants with recurrent seizures and compared with a reference group of nine interictal studies. The study indicates that both clinical and electrical seizures in neonates are associated with a focal cerebral hyperperfusion of the same amount as seen in adults.