Etiology and pathogenesis of neonatal encephalopathy - UpToDate

INTRODUCTION Neonatal encephalopathy is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by signs of central nervous system dysfunction in newborn infants. Clinical suspicion of neonatal encephalopathy should be considered in any infant exhibiting an abnormal level of consciousness, seizures, tone and reflex abnormalities, apnea, aspiration, feeding difficulties [1-3], and an abnormal hearing screen. This topic will review the etiology and pathogenesis of neonatal encephalopathy. Other clinical aspects of this syndrome are discussed separately. (See "Clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of neonatal encephalopathy".) TERMINOLOGY "Neonatal encephalopathy" has emerged as the preferred term to describe central nervous system dysfunction in the newborn period [2,4]. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) describes neonatal encephalopathy as a clinically defined syndrome of disturbed neurologic function in the earliest days of life in an infant born at or beyond 35 weeks

INTRODUCTION Neonatal encephalopathy is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by signs of central nervous system dysfunction in newborn infants. Clinical suspicion of neonatal encephalopathy should be considered in any infant exhibiting an abnormal level of consciousness, seizures, tone and reflex abnormalities, apnea, aspiration, feeding difficulties [1-3], and an abnormal hearing screen. This topic will review the etiology and pathogenesis of neonatal encephalopathy. Other clinical aspects of this syndrome are discussed separately. (See "Clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of neonat