Neuropediatrics 2008; 39(4): 226-232
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1105902
Original Article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Electroencephalogram and Flash Visual Evoked Potentials for Detecting Periventricular Leukomalacia

H. Kidokoro 1 , 2 , A. Okumura 2 , 3 , T. Kato 1 , 4 , F. Hayakawa 4 , J. Natsume 2 , T. Kubota 1 , K. Watanabe 5 , S. Kojima 2
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Aichi, Japan
  • 2Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
  • 3Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  • 4Department of Pediatrics, Okazaki City Hospital, Aichi, Japan
  • 5Faculty of Medical Welfare, Aichi Shukutoku University, Aichi, Japan
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

received 06.06.2008

accepted 14.11.2008

Publikationsdatum:
22. Januar 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a combination of electroencephalogram (EEG) and flash visual evoked potentials (FVEPs) for predicting periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) in the early days of life.

Study Design: Eighty-six of 108 infants admitted to Anjo Kosei Hospital during 1998 through 2000 were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent EEG and FVEP during the early neonatal period and were followed-up until 18 months of corrected age. EEG was performed once within 72 h after birth, every 1–2 weeks during the first month and every 2–4 weeks during the second month. FVEPs were recorded at least twice, at the first and the second week of life.

Results: Of the 86 infants, 13 were diagnosed as having PVL. Among them, EEG abnormalities were observed in 11 infants and FVEP abnormalities in 10. The sensitivity and specificity of EEG were 0.85 and 0.95, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of FVEPs were 0.77 and 0.96, respectively. All except one (92%) infant with PVL had EEG and/or FVEP abnormalities.

Conclusions: The combination of EEG and FVEPs can increase the sensitivity, but reduces the specificity to identify infants with PVL. The combination can makes up for the shortcomings of each method.

References

Correspondence

H. KidokoroMD 

Department of Pediatrics

Anjo Kosei Hopital

28 Higashihirokute

Anjo-cho

Anjo-shi

Aichi 466-8510

Japan

Telefon: +81/566/75 21 11

Fax: +81/566/76 43 35

eMail: kidokoro@kosei.anjo.aichi.jp