Epileptic High-frequency Oscillations Occur in Neonates with a High Risk for Seizures

Overview

Journal Front Neurol

Specialty Neurology

Date 2023 Jan 23

PMID 36686542

Authors

Nicola Kuhnke

Courtney J Wusthoff

Eroshini Swarnalingam

Mina Yanoussi

Julia Jacobs

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Scalp high-frequency oscillations (HFOs, 80-250 Hz) are increasingly recognized as EEG markers of epileptic brain activity. It is, however, unclear what level of brain maturity is necessary to generate these oscillations. Many studies have reported the occurrence of scalp HFOs in children with a correlation between treatment success of epileptic seizures and the reduction of HFOs. More recent studies describe the reliable detection of HFOs on scalp EEG during the neonatal period.

Methods: In the present study, continuous EEGs of 38 neonates at risk for seizures were analyzed visually for the scalp HFOs using 30 min of quiet sleep EEG. EEGs of 14 patients were of acceptable quality to analyze HFOs.

Results: The average rate of HFOs was 0.34 ± 0.46/min. About 3.2% of HFOs occurred associated with epileptic spikes. HFOs were significantly more frequent in EEGs with abnormal vs. normal background activities ( = 0.005).

Discussion: Neonatal brains are capable of generating HFOs. HFO could be a viable biomarker for neonates at risk of developing seizures. Our preliminary data suggest that HFOs mainly occur in those neonates who have altered background activity. Larger data sets are needed to conclude whether HFO occurrence is linked to seizure generation and whether this might predict the development of epilepsy.

Citing Articles

Scalp high-frequency oscillations differentiate neonates with seizures from healthy neonates.

Cserpan D, Guidi G, Alessandri B, Fedele T, Ruegger A, Pisani F Epilepsia Open. 2023; 8(4):1491-1502.

PMID: 37702021 PMC: 10690668. DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12827.

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