OUTCOME OF NEONATAL STROKE IN FULL-TERM INFANTS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT BIRTH ASPHYXIA

Seven children with neonatal stroke were identified and six were follo wed for 13 months to 5 years (mean 28 months). Gestational age ranged between 39 and 42 weeks and none had hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. Focal clonic seizures were the presenting feature in six, and one pre sented with apnoea. The age of the first seizure ranged between 8 and 48 h (mean 26). The total number of seizures ranged between 3 and 10 ( mean 5), and all seizures resolved by day 3 in all cases. CT scan show ed an ischaemic infarct in six cases, and one child had a haemorrhagic infarct in the right anterior cerebral artery distribution. Phenobarb ital was maintained for 3 weeks to 6 months (mean 11 weeks). None had recurrent seizures beyond the 3rd day of life and all were developing normally with no significant focal neurological deficits on follow up assessment. Conclusions: Full-term infants with:neonatal :stroke unrel ated to significant birth asphyxia have a favourable: neurological out come. Seizures appear to be restricted to the first 3 days of life We recommend short-term treatment with anticonvulsants.