Epilepsy, EEG Abnormalities in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

PURPOSE:The comorbidity of epilepsy varies from 8% to 42% in autism spectrum disorders(ASD), and currently its estimate is approximately one-third of the whole spectrum. Additionally, it is reported that certain ASD patients have EEG abnormalities without epileptic history. This study was conducted to analyze the prevalence of epilepsy and EEG abnormalities in ASD patients, as well as discover the risk factors for such conditions. METHODS:329 cases with ASD were identified from the 1252 patients who visited the Developmental Disorder Clinic at Ilsan Hospital, National Health Insurance Corporation, from April 2001 to June 2008. Among the total ASD cases, the 186 patients who have had EEG test were selected, from which 54 patients with abnormal EEG were classified as a test group and 132 patients with normal EEG as a control group. The results were analyzed and compared between the test and control groups retrospectively. RESULTS:1) A total 186 patients of 143 males and 43 females participated in the study. Subjects were subdivided into 5 groups as follows: 14 Asperger syndrome, 70 pervasive developmental disorder, NOS, 95 autistic disorder, 7 Rett's syndrome, and no childhood disintegrative disorder. The test group was a total of 54 cases with 36 males and 18 females and average age of 56.44+/-27.51. The control group was a total of 132 cases with 107 males and 25 and its average age was 48.86+/-27.44. 2) EEG abnormalities were seen in 54 out of 186 patients(29%) and epileptic symptoms were found in 26 out of 186 patients(14%). 3) Among 186 cases of ASD patients, a total of 217 EEG were conducted and 71(32.7%) of them showed EEG abnormalities. Furthermore, it was noticed that the prevalence of abnormal EEG findings increased with the severity of the disease(P<0.05). 4) Epilepsy is directly related to the severity of ASD(P<0.05) and even higher prevalence was seen in patients with positive family history of epilepsy(P<0.05). 5) On the other hand, abnormal EEG was seen in 31 out of 160 non-epileptic patients. 6) 179 out of 186 ASD patients had taken cognitive function tests and those 156 patients with cognitive impairment were more likely to show abnormalities in EEG. Severe ASD patients were more likely show abnormal EEG and the degree of cognitive impairment was closely related to the severity of ASD(P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Our study showed that risk factors for epilepsy comorbidity and EEG abnormalities in ASD were directly related to family history of epilepsy,the severity of ASD, the presence of cognitive impairment, and the severity of cognitive impairment. It is thought that epilepsy and EEG abnormalities are thought to be markers for underlying brain pathology that resulted in ASD. Furthermore ASD patients showed higher prevalence of EEG abnormalities than the general population, from which it can be speculated that the cause of ASD lies more closely in underlying neurobiological dysfunctions in individual patients, rather than inadequate nurturing environment.

A Case of Diffuse Cerebral Cortical Dysplasia and Partial Agenesis of Corpus Callosum in Seckel Syndrome

Seckel syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by low birth weight, short but proportionate stature, microcephaly, moderate to severe mental retardation and typical facial features mimicking bird including receding forehead and chin, a prominent beaked nose and large eyes. A number of CNS anomalies have been reported in literature that are mental retardation, seizures, pachygyria, arachnoid cysts, large basal ganglia, agenesis of corpus callosum, hypoplasia of cerebellar vermis and cerebral aneurysms. Our patient had seizures, microcephaly, mental retardation and CNS anomalies, including diffuse cerebral dysgenesis, pachygyria and partial agenesis of corpus callosum. We report a case of Seckel syndrome with CNS anomalies and a follow up visit at 5 years later

A case of acute aseptic meningitis associated with herpes zoster / 소아과

Herpes zoster is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which affects nerve ganglions. VZV infection may be associated with neurologic complications, which are usually observed after vesicular exanthem. Acute aseptic meningitis is a rare complication of VZV reactivation. We report the case of a previously healthy 14-year-old boy who suffered from aseptic meningitis that was attributed to reactivated VZV infection with exanthem; the patient had undergone vaccination against varicella. This condition can be confirmed by the detection of VZV DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient was treated with acyclovir and recovered fully.

Prevalence of Allergic Diseases among Primary School Children in Ilsan, Gyeonggi and Changes of Symptoms After Environmental Control in 2005 / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and allergic conjunctivitis among primary school pupils in Ilsan, Gyeonggi province. We also investigated change of symptoms after environmental control. METHODS:In April 2005, a cross-sectional study was performed among 2,745 1st to 6th graders of 3 primary schools in Ilsan, Gyeonggi province. International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) standardized questionnaires and additional questionnaires about environmental changes were distributed to their parents. RESULTS:Data were collected from 2,535 children (1,279 boys and 1,256 girls). The most common allergic symptom was rhinorrhea (43.0%), and atopic skin lesions, ocular lesions and wheezing were 24.5%, 19.7% and 18.2%, respectively. There was no significant relationship between allergic diseases and environmental status. One thousand four hundred nineteen children moved to a new place or had new interior decorations within the last 2 years. Of these children, 352 (24.8%) had allergic symptoms (OR=2.76, CI= 1.96-3.41, P=0.001). Interestingly, we found that children who had moved into apartments experienced more symptom changes than those who had not (P=0.022). CONCLUSION:The results of this study demonstrated that the prevalence of allergic conditions in primary school children in Ilsan, Gyeonggi province in 2005 was higher than those of nation-wide studies in 2000. We found the results of our study is similar to those of Seoul in 2005. We found a significant relationship between environmental status and changes of symptoms in primary school children in Ilsan, Gyeonggi province.

Prevalence of Allergic Diseases among Primary School Children in Ilsan, Gyeonggi and Changes of Symptoms After Environmental Control in 2005 / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and allergic conjunctivitis among primary school pupils in Ilsan, Gyeonggi province. We also investigated change of symptoms after environmental control. METHODS:In April 2005, a cross-sectional study was performed among 2,745 1st to 6th graders of 3 primary schools in Ilsan, Gyeonggi province. International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) standardized questionnaires and additional questionnaires about environmental changes were distributed to their parents. RESULTS:Data were collected from 2,535 children (1,279 boys and 1,256 girls). The most common allergic symptom was rhinorrhea (43.0%), and atopic skin lesions, ocular lesions and wheezing were 24.5%, 19.7% and 18.2%, respectively. There was no significant relationship between allergic diseases and environmental status. One thousand four hundred nineteen children moved to a new place or had new interior decorations within the last 2 years. Of these children, 352 (24.8%) had allergic symptoms (OR=2.76, CI= 1.96-3.41, P=0.001). Interestingly, we found that children who had moved into apartments experienced more symptom changes than those who had not (P=0.022). CONCLUSION:The results of this study demonstrated that the prevalence of allergic conditions in primary school children in Ilsan, Gyeonggi province in 2005 was higher than those of nation-wide studies in 2000. We found the results of our study is similar to those of Seoul in 2005. We found a significant relationship between environmental status and changes of symptoms in primary school children in Ilsan, Gyeonggi province.

Intraoperative detection of patent foramen ovale by transesophageal echocardiography

No abstract available.