Significance of background activity and positive sharp waves in neonatal electroencephalogram as prognostic of cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE To study the significance of electroencephalographic background activity and positive sharp waves in neonatal electroencephalogram as prognostic of cerebral palsy. METHOD We studied prospectively and sequentially 73 newborns who had severe neonatal complications (neonatal anoxia, seizures, respiratory distress, sepsis, and meningitis). Nineteen newborns were excluded and 54 children formed the object of our study and were followed for 2 years. We analyzed gestational age, conceptional age, electroencephalographic background activity and positive sharp waves, which were correlated with cerebral palsy. RESULTS There were no statistically significant correlation between gestational age and conceptional age and cerebral palsy; the electroencephalographic background activity was correlated with cerebral palsy as well as the positive sharp waves. CONCLUSION Children with electroencephalographic background activity markedly abnormal and accompanied by positive sharp waves were associated with a worse prognosis.