RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Dyskinetic cerebral palsy in Europe: trends in prevalence and severity
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 921
OP 926
DO 10.1136/adc.2008.144014
VO 94
IS 12
A1 K Himmelmann
A1 V McManus
A1 G Hagberg
A1 P Uvebrant
A1 I Krägeloh-Mann
A1 C Cans
YR 2009
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/94/12/921.abstract
AB Objective: To describe the trends for and severity of dyskinetic cerebral palsy in a European collaborative study between cerebral palsy registers, the Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE).Methods: The prevalence of dyskinetic cerebral palsy was calculated in children born in 1976–1996. Walking ability, accompanying impairments and perinatal adverse events were analysed.Results: 578 children had dyskinetic cerebral palsy, of whom 70% were born at term. The prevalence per 1000 live births increased from 0.08 in the 1970s to 0.14 in the 1990s. For the 386 children (70%) with a birth weight of ⩾2500 g, the increase was significant (0.05 to 0.12). There was a concurrent decrease in neonatal mortality among children with a birth weight of ⩾2500 g. Overall, 16% of the children walked without aids, 24% with aids and 59% needed a wheelchair. Severe learning disability was present in 52%, epilepsy in 51% and severe visual and hearing impairment in 19% and 6%, respectively. Accompanying impairments increased with motor severity. In children born in 1991–1996, perinatal adverse events, that is an Apgar score of <5 at 5 min and convulsions before 72 h, had occurred more frequently compared with children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP, n = 4746). Children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy had more severe cognitive and motor impairments than children with BSCP.Conclusions: The prevalence of dyskinetic cerebral palsy appears to have increased in children with a normal birth weight. They have frequently experienced perinatal adverse events. Most children have a severe motor impairment and several accompanying impairments.