title: Neonatal hypocalcemic seizures: case report and literature review.
abstract: Seizures during the neonatal period have a broad differential diagnosis, many with a specific treatment and prognosis. In the case reported, a combination of dietary and endocrinologic abnormalities resulted in hypocalcemic seizures, which continued despite aggressive correction of serum ionized calcium levels. Serial electroencephalograms (EEG) performed during the hospitalization were markedly abnormal, and treatment with anticonvulsant drugs was considered given the persistence of seizures despite normalization of serum calcium levels. After 4 days of intravenous calcium administration, the seizure activity resolved, and the patient returned to his normal baseline level of functioning. This case highlights the clinical course of neonatal hypocalcemic seizures, EEG findings in several cases, and possible mechanisms for both hypocalcemic precipitation of seizures and anticonvulsant ineffectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Epilepsy, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. ekossoff@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kossoff
authors.forename: Mary T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Silvia
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maret
authors.forename: Mauri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carakushansky
authors.forename: Eileen P G
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Vining
mesh_terms: D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D002125:Calcium Gluconate