Abnormal sharp transients on electroencephalograms in preterm infants with periventricular leukomalacia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical significance of abnormal sharp transients other than positive rolandic sharp waves (PRS), electroencephalograms were used for the diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).


METHODS
We evaluated 126 electroencephalograms from 93 preterm infants; 31 infants had PVL, and 62 were control infants. Frontal sharp waves (FS) were defined as sharp transients of positive polarity with an amplitude >100 microV. Occipital sharp waves (OS) were defined as those of negative polarity with an amplitude >150 microV. FS, OS, or PRS were considered to be present when there were >0.1 per minute.


RESULTS
The number of FS per minute was significantly higher in the PVL group than in the control group during days 0 to 4 and 5 to 7. The number of OS per minute was also significantly higher in the PVL group than in the control group during days 0 to 4, 5 to 7, and 8 to 14. The sensitivity of FS or OS was relatively high but that of PRS was low. The presence of two or more types of abnormal sharp transients was correlated with a poor outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
FS or OS may be useful for predicting which infant will have PVL.
Okumura
Akihisa
A
Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan. okamura@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Hayakawa
Fumio
F
Kato
Toru
T
Maruyama
Koichi
K
Kubota
Tetsuo
T
Suzuki
Motomasa
M
Kidokoro
Hiroyuki
H
Kuno
Kuniyoshi
K
Watanabe
Kazuyoshi
K
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis; D004453:Echoencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index