Building: Bourbon Cataratas Convention Centre, Foz do Iguaçu
Room: Iguazu I
Date: 2014-05-08 03:45 PM – 04:00 PM
Last modified: 2014-02-09
Abstract
Introduction: Neonatal seizures are a common problem within the field of child neurology and cause significant morbidity. Phenobarbital and phenytoin are effective in less than 50% of subjects, both have significant acute and chronic side effects. In neonatal animals these agents cause accelerated neuronal apoptosis. Better treatments are needed.
Methods: We report an ongoing FDA funded blinded comparison of efficacy of intravenous phenobarbital vs. levetiracetam in EEG confirmed neonatal seizures in term infants with internet videoEEG monitoring and evaluation of a new seizure detection aligorithm. We will recruit >200 at risk subjects to identify and treat 100 babies with seizures. There are 6 study sites, 3 in San Diego, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Oakland Children’s Hospital and Auckland New Zealand.Results: This study is blinded and ongoing however we can report that 7 of 26 infants at risk of seizures had electrographically confirmed seizures. 16 of 26 enrolled babies suffered perinatal depression and underwent whole body hypothermia; 3 had seizures acutely and 1 on rewarming. We will report our experience so far on the utility of remote videoEEG monitoring. The study flow is supplementary.
Discussion: A blinded term neonatal seizure study comparing efficacy of phenobarbital and levetiracetam is underway at 6 neonatal units with internet continuous EEG monitoring (NEOLEV2). We report preliminary information although efficacy data on seizure control will not be available until study completion.