Myoclonic seizures in a preterm baby: is this a presentation of venlafaxine withdrawal?
Venlafaxine, a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is increasingly used in pregnant women with pre-existing depression who require continued treatment. However, its in uteroeffects on the developing fetus are not clear. Herein, we report the unusual presentation of venlafaxine withdrawal in a female preterm baby of 29 weeks gestation, who presented with myoclonic seizures on her second day of life. The seizures were confirmed using amplitude-integrated electroencephalography, and other possible causes of neonatal seizures were excluded. The baby responded to treatment with phenobarbitone and phenytoin. Magnetic resonance imaging of her brain was unremarkable at corrected gestational age of 39 weeks and 2 days. On follow-up at the corrected age of five months, she was well and developing normally with no further seizures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of seizures in a preterm baby resulting from maternal venlafaxine use.
Department of Neonatology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Yorkhill), Dalnair Street, Glasgow G3 8SJ, United Kingdom. dralthaf_ansari@yahoo.com.
Althaf
A
Ansary
Samuel
S
Ibhanesebhor
Chikkanayakanahalli
C
Manjunatha
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D010634:Phenobarbital; D010672:Phenytoin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride