ABSTRACT
Objective To summarize the clinical and electroencephalography(EEG) characteristics of benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BECTS) in children.Methods The clinical manifestations,EEG findings,response to drug treatment and prognosis of 35 children with BECTS from Jul.2003 to Dec.2008 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were analyzed retrospectively.Results In the 35 cases,the age of onset was 2.5 to 14.0 years old,and the peak age of onset was 6-10 years old(62.9%).Twenty-two cases mainly presented partial seizures:hemifacial convulsions,sialorrhea,sounds,limb tonic-clonic seizures,and secondary generalized seizures.Thirteen cases were only describled generalized tonic-clonic seizures.Seizures were closely related to sleep and almost occurred shortly after falling asleep or before waking up.There were 26 cases who displayed convulsion during sleeping,including noon break.The EEG features showed numerous or single spikes on one side or both sides in the central and temporal areas under the background of normal activity in interictal period.The release frequency of abnormal wave was significantly increased after falling asleep,so the EEG monitoring during sleep could improve the positive rate of BECTS.Monotherapy with low-dose anti-epileptic drug could obtain good efficacy.Twenty-five cases stopped seizures within 3 months after therapy.Thirty-three cases hadn't get seizure since drug therapy at the age of 16 years old.So far,12 cases had been stopped medicine.Conclusions BECTS mostly begins at school-aged children,which displays partial seizures or secondary generalized seizures.The seizures are closely related to sleep.EEG monitoring during sleep which shows numerous or single spikes on the centrotemporal area has crucial diagnostic value to BECTS.There is a positive response to monotherapy with low-dose anti-epileptic drug and generally the prognosis is good.