Neonatal seizures accompanied by diffuse cerebral white matter lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging are associated with rotavirus infection.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Some full-term neonates presenting seizures show diffusion-restricted lesions in the cerebral white matter on brain diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and DWI findings in a group of neonates with seizures, white matter lesions on DWI, and a high incidence of rotavirus infection.

METHODS

Total 30 full-term neonates with seizures were admitted between 2008 and 2010. Of these, 13 (group A) had the following characteristics on brain DWI: (1) diffusion-restricted lesions in the diffuse symmetric cerebral white matter, including the corpus callosum, and (2) no cerebral cortical lesions. The remaining 17 patients (group B) did not exhibit the DWI findings. The clinical characteristics were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

The 1-min and 5-min Apgar scores ranged between 7 and 10 in all group A patients, whereas the scores were more diverse in the group B patients. Patients' age at seizure onset was 4.6 ± 0.6 days (range, 4-6 days) in group A and 8.3 ± 7.4 days (range, 1-27 days) in group B. Twelve of 13 patients (92.3%) in group A tested positive for stool rotavirus antigen, while only 2 of 12 (16.7%) in group B tested positive (p < 0.001). Six of 10 group A patients showed normal neurodevelopment, but 4 had delayed development between 6 and 30 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Rotavirus infection should be considered in neonates with seizures accompanied by diffuse cerebral white matter lesions on DWI, particularly around 5 days of life.