Clinical characteristics and risk factors for epilepsy comorbidity in children  with cerebral palsy associated with periventricular leukomalacia

LI Qingyun; WANG Jinggang; CHEN Yongqiang; ZHANG Weiyun; YUN Guojun; CAO Jianguo

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0228

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (2) : 197-201. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0228

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for epilepsy comorbidity in children with cerebral palsy associated with periventricular leukomalacia

LI Qingyun, WANG Jinggang, CHEN Yongqiang, ZHANG Weiyun, YUN Guojun, CAO Jianguo

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Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors for epilepsy comorbidity in children with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)-associated cerebral palsy (CP), so as to provide a basis for early warning and individualized intervention. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted, including 142 children aged over 6 years with PVL-related CP admitted to Shenzhen Children's Hospital between June 2018 and September 2024. Participants were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of epilepsy comorbidity. Demographic, perinatal, clinical, and neuroimaging data were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify influencing factors for epilepsy comorbidity. Results Seventy-five children (52.8%) had comorbid epilepsy. The median age at first seizure was 23 months. A single seizure type was observed in 84.0% (63/75) of cases, with focal seizures (28.0%) being the most common. Seizures were controlled with monotherapy in 38.7% of cases and with polytherapy in 33.3%. Univariate analysis showed there are significant differences in neonatal seizure history, neonatal mechanical ventilation history(χ²=5.382), birth asphyxia history(χ²=7.826), abnormal EEG(χ²=25.352), PVL grading(χ²=28.495),gross motor function classification system(GMFCS), microcephaly(χ²=21.816), and CP classification(χ²=11.077) between the two groups (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified abnormal EEG (OR =9.622, 95%CI: 2.415 - 38.330), moderate PVL (OR =3.939, 95%CI: 1.678 - 9.247), severe PVL (OR =5.358, 95%CI: 1.804 - 15.909), and spastic quadriplegia (OR =3.376, 95%CI: 1.134 - 10.051) as independent risk factors for epilepsy comorbidity in children with PVL-related CP (P<0.05). Conclusions Epilepsy comorbidity in children with PVL-related CP predominantly occurs in early childhood, characterized mainly by focal seizures and a relatively high rate of medication control.Moderate or severe PVL, spastic quadriplegia, and abnormal EEG are independent risk factors, warranting enhanced early monitoring and intervention for this high-risk population.

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periventricular leukomalacia / cerebral palsy / epilepsy / spastic quadriplegia / electroencephalography

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LI Qingyun, WANG Jinggang, CHEN Yongqiang, ZHANG Weiyun, YUN Guojun, CAO Jianguo. Clinical characteristics and risk factors for epilepsy comorbidity in children with cerebral palsy associated with periventricular leukomalacia[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2026, 34(2): 197-201 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0228

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