Neonatal seizures: Ceasing AEDs pre-discharge ‘safe for most’
The largest observational study to date provides reassurance, US researchers say
For most newborns with acute symptomatic seizures, doctors can safely stop antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) before hospital discharge without worse outcomes, US researchers say.
The research team analysed data for 303 neonates with acute symptomatic seizures treated at nine US Neonatal Seizure Registry centres during a period of about three years.
They compared the effectiveness of discontinuing versus maintaining antiseizure therapy — phenobarbital, levetiracetam, or polytherapy — in the observational study.
At 24 months, the researchers measured functional neurodevelopment with the Warner Initial Developmental Evaluation of Adaptive and Functional Skills (WIDEA-FS).
