Affiliations: Neonatal Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of
Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan
Note: [] Correspondence: Eman Badran, M.D., PO Box 13046, Jordan
University Hospital, Amman, Jordan. Tel.: +962 79 5608288; Fax: +962 6 5355388;
E-mail: emantaj@hotmail.com
Abstract: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on all neonates
admitted with a diagnosis of neonatal seizures in the neonatal intensive care
unit of Jordan University Hospital Amman from April 2003 to March 2005 to
examine the cause and clinical profile of seizures in a community, which
culturally favors consanguineous marriages. Of 35 neonates studied, inborn
errors of metabolism accounted for 28.6%, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
for 17.1% and cerebral malformations for 14.3%. The consanguinity rate
among parents of affected neonates was 54%, and 22.9% of these probands
had a similarly affected sibling. Compared with 78 matched controls,
consanguinity proved to be a risk factor for neonatal seizures (P=0.007,
odds ratios =3.02; 95% confidence intervals 1.22 to 7.51). The
hospital-based incidence of seizures was 5.6 per 1000 live births. Poor outcome
in the form of mortality or morbidity was present in 67.8% of the cases.
Early-onset seizures and status epilepticus accounted in 40% and 22.9% of
cases respectively, with subtle seizures being the commonest type. Based on our
results, inborn errors of metabolism and cerebral malformations make a
significant contribution to the etiology of clinical neonatal seizures. This is
accounted for by the consanguineous population being at risk for a number of
neurogenetic disorders leading to convulsions on one hand and by improved
methods of diagnosis of neonatal seizures on the other. In future, genetic
counseling may help to minimize the contribution of underlying genetic factors
to neonatal seizures in our community.
Keywords: Neonates, causes, seizures, consanguinity, Jordan
