Severe periventricular leukomalacia: Some electroencephalographic aspects

Periventricular leukomalacia is an infrequent bur severe lesion in the premature neonate. The presence of positive rolandic sharp waves (PRSW) on the electroencephalogram regardless of their morphology, is a reliable marker of periventricular ischemia, justifying systematic EEC monitoring during the first three weeks of life for infants born at less than 34 weeks of amenorrhea. A retrospective study of 32 premature neonates with extensive cavitary periventricular leukomalacia confirmed the early occurrence of positive rolandic sharp waves in 84% of premature newborns. The mean rate of PRSW was 1.54/min, but showed great variability. In Ct, these sharp waves which were more frequent or isolated in one case, had the same value as those recorded in C3 or C4. Four neonates had no PRSW, but late periventricular leukomalacia was diagnosed at one month of age. As all these premature infants were barn before 29 weeks of amenorrhea, longer EEC monitoring was justified. The prognosis was very pea,: 17 newborns died If had motor, sensory and intellectual impairment, and three had motor lesions.