Serial EEGs in normal and abnormal infants with birth weights less than 1200 grams--a prospective study with long term follow-up.

Serial EEGs were recorded during the postnatal period from 62 infants with birth weights less than or equal to 1200 gms. Neurological examinations were performed in proximity to the EEG and each infant had at least one imaging study of the brain in the immediate postnatal period. All infants were examined at 2-3 years age. Neurological sequelae were seen in all infants with markedly abnormal neonatal EEGs and in the majority of those with persistently moderately abnormal tracings. A particularly unique EEG abnormality consisting of an arrest of maturation of cerebral electrical activity was seen in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia who suffered neurological sequelae. A persistently asymmetric EEG background was recorded in infants with hemispheric pathology who were found to have hemisyndromes at long term follow-up. Serial EEGs were better predictors of long term outcome than imaging studies and the neurological examination.