One hundred and thirty four newborn children of 37 weeks' gestation age or greater, with evidence of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy following perinatal asphyxia and surviving through the neonatal period were prospectively studied. The study involved evaluation of clinical outcome and the presence of epilepsy associated with the EEG pattern in the neonatal period. The results prove that the presence of a burst suppression EEG pattern and a hypoactive/flat EEG are negative prognostic criteria. In presence of a focal or multifocal pattern it is difficult to establish a clear prognostic criteria. Last, in newborn children with a normal EEG; with a low amplitude register; with frequencies slow or with bilateral sharp waves transients, a good prognosis can safely be established.