Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Of Neonatal Non-Epileptic Paroxysmal Events: A Prospective Study

Aim To report on psychomotor development and outcomes in term born neonates with non-epileptic paroxysmal events (NEPEs).Method From October 2017 to March 2019 we enrolled 38 consecutive term born neonates (22 males, 16 females; aged between 0-28d), born at the University Hospital San Marco in Catania, Italy, with NEPEs. We performed the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination scale (at enrolment), the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) scale (at age 3, 6, 9, and 12mo), and the Griffiths scale (at age 12mo).Results The age at onset of first paroxysmal manifestations ranged from birth to 4 days. We recorded a suboptimal global score in 18 out of 38 patients at enrolment and in 10 out of 38 patients at age 3 months (>70% of these infants were male); all events disappeared within 6 months of life. At age 6, 9, and 12 months, all infants scored within normal values on the HINE and Griffiths scale.Interpretation Patients with NEPEs achieve neurodevelopment optimal scores within their first year of life.