Perinatal thalamic injury: MRI predictors of electrical status epilepticus in sleep and long-term neurodevelopment

Abstract Objective Perinatal thalamic injury is associated with epilepsy with electrical status epilepticus in sleep (ESES). The aim of this study was to prospectively quantify the risk of ESES and to assess neuroimaging predictors of neurodevelopment. Methods We included patients with perinatal thalamic injury. MRI scans were obtained in the neonatal period, around three months of age and during childhood. Thalamic and total brain volumes were obtained from the three months MRI. Diffusion characteristics were assessed. Sleep EEGs distinguished patients into ESES (spike-wave index (SWI) >85%), ESES-spectrum (SWI 50-85%) or no ESES (SWI Results Thirty patients were included. Mean thalamic volume at three months was 8.11 (±1.67) ml and mean total brain volume 526.45 (±88.99) ml. In the prospective cohort (n=23) 19 patients (83%) developed ESES (-spectrum) abnormalities after a mean follow-up of 96 months. In the univariate analysis, larger thalamic volume, larger total brain volume and lower SWI correlated with higher mean IQ / DQ after 2 years (Pearson's r=0.74, p=0.001; Pearson's r=0.64, p=0.005; and Spearman's rho -0.44, p=0.03). In a multivariable mixed model analysis, thalamic volume was a significant predictor of IQ / DQ (coefficient 9.60 [p Significance Perinatal thalamic injury is followed by electrical status epilepticus in sleep in the majority of patients. Thalamic volume and diffusion characteristics correlate to neurodevelopmental outcome.