Neonatal hypoxia and epileptic risk: a clinical prospective study.

A historical cohort study was undertaken to determine the risk of epilepsy in a population of 371 newborns with an acute neurological disorder related to fetal and/or neonatal hypoxia compared with a control population of 362 normal newborns. The results showed that the risk of epilepsy was 5.1 times higher in the group of subjects affected at birth by a hypoxia-related acute neurological syndrome than in the control group. (Although the incidence of epilepsy is higher in the first year of life, epileptic seizures connected to perinatal hypoxia may occur in early childhood or later on.) Also, there were frequently persistent neuropsychiatric disorders in children with perinatal hypoxia (5.4%). There was no difference in the two groups regarding the incidence of febrile convulsions. The data show that perinatal hypoxia plays a role in the etiology of epilepsy, although at birth the hypoxia might result in only a modest and oftentimes completely reversible neurological syndrome.

[Drugs administered to the mother during labor and neonatal jaundice]. / Farmaci somministrati alla madre durante il travaglio di parto ed ittero neonatale.

The authors investigated the relationship between neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia and the administering of drugs to mothers during labor and delivery in 756 A.G.A. regular pregnancy born. Findings point out a statistically significant relationship (P less than 0,05) between all drugs administered to mothers, general anesthesia included, and the presence of jaundice in newborn. Authors recommend administration of drugs to women in labor and in delivery only if strictly necessary.

Perinatal transmission of the hepatitis B virus and of the HBV-associated delta agent from mothers to offspring in northern Italy.

We report a prospective study on infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier mothers to estimate the incidence of perinatal transmission of HBV and HBV-associated delta agent in Northern Italy. The risk of infection to the infant was related to the presence of the HBe antigen-antibody system, HBV-specific DNA polymerase activity and antibody to delta in maternal sera, and to the titer of anti-HBe in babies at birth. The data of this study indicate: 1. Babies born to HBsAg carrier mothers with HBeAg in serum are at extremely high risk of acquiring HBV infection and of developing a chronic carrier state, whereas those born to anti-HBe-positive mothers are at a lower (P less than .01) yet consistent risk of infection. 2. HBs antigenemia is usually prolonged and symptomatic in babies born to HBeAg-positive mothers while being self-limited and asymptomatic in babies born to anti-HBe-positive mothers. 3. DNA polymerase activity in maternal serum appears to be the most sensitive marker predicting HBV transmission to the infant since it was detected in all the HBeAg-positive mothers and also in two anti-HBe-positive mothers and in one HBeAg/anti-HBe-negative mother who transmitted infection to their babies. 4. High titers of anti-HBe (up to 1:103) do not prevent HBV infection. 5. Vertical transmission of delta infection seems to occur only in circumstances that permit perinatal transmission of HBV infection.

[Vitamin prophylaxis for immature infant anemia (author's transl)]. / L'anemia precoce dell'immaturo e la sua profilassi con vitamine.

The cause of the Premature Infant Anemia (PIA) is mainly an insufficient erythropoiesis, a shorter mean-life of the red cells and in increased hemolysis. On these basis of prophylaxis has been attempted by treating newborns with folic acid, alpha-tocopherol and vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C. 208 premature babies have been treated (birth weight higher than 1750 nr. 171; birth weight less than 1750 nr. 37). Several parameters have been evaluated: weight gain, erythrocyte and reticulocyte count, jaundice occurrence and number of transfusions needed. The results on the blood parameters was good for the small babies group and sufficient for the others. Differences have been observed between the two groups for the occurrence of jaundice and transfusions.