Epilepsy in children with periventricular leukomalacia

Objective We aimed to analyze the development of epilepsy in a patient group with periventricular leukomalacia followed at a tertiary pediatric neurology center. Patients and methods The study included 108 children aged between 2 and 8 years with radiologically proven periventricular leukomalacia who had been regularly observed at the Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology outpatient clinic between January 2006 and December 2011. Results Neonatal seizures were reported in 22 patients (20.3%), 14 of whom developed epilepsy. A significant correlation was found between neonatal seizures and prematurity and newborn asphyxia ( p = 0.013 and p = 0.010, respectively). Epilepsy developed in 35 patients (32.4%), history of neonatal seizures and more severe loss of white matter, periventricular hyperintensity and corpus callosum involvement were found to be correlated with epilepsy ( p = 0.001, p = 0.004, p = 0.016, and p = 0.004, respectively). The most common seizure pattern observed was generalized tonic clonic seizures ( n = 13) and complex partial seizures ( n = 11). Those with focal EEG findings had a significantly better neurodevelopmental and cognitive level than those with multifocal/generalized EEG findings ( p = 0.024). Seizures continued with varying frequency in 14 epileptic patients (40%) despite antiepileptic treatment. Conclusion Almost a third of patients with periventricular leukomalacia develop epilepsy that can be intractable in substantial part. Neonatal seizures and severe MRI findings are important clues that can indicate the development of epilepsy in these patients.