Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs on Language Abilities in Benign Epilepsy of Childhood with Centrotemporal Spikes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study is to assess the responsiveness of electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities and their effects on language ability after initiating different types of antiepileptic therapy in children with newly diagnosed benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS). METHODS: The records of patients newly diagnosed with BECTS (n=120; 69 males) were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were randomly treated with lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, or topiramate monotherapy, and underwent at least two EEG and standardized language tests. Effects were compared using Pearson’s chi-square tests and paired t-tests. RESULTS: The recurrence rates for seizures in the lamotrigine, topiramate, and oxcarbazepine groups were 19.4%, 21.7%, and 11.4%, respectively, while complete or partial recovery (as indicated by EEG) occurred in 32%, 39%, and 16% of the patients. Patients in the lamotrigine group showed significant improvements in all parameters assessed by the Test of Language Problem Solving Abilities, except for ‘determining cause.’ Patients in the oxcarbazepine group also showed improvements, except for ‘making inferences’ (p < 0.05). Most linguistic index scores were worse in the topiramate group except for Mean Length of Utterance in Words. Patients in the lamotrigine and oxcarbazepine groups showed significant improvements in the receptive language test (p < 0.05). EEG improvements were not related to language ability. CONCLUSIONS: The improvements in language and problem-solving performance in children with BECTS were greater for lamotrigine and oxcarbazepine than for topiramate. However, EEG remission did not imply that language function would be improved after the treatments.

Clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics of benign occipital epilepsy of childhood in two tertiary Brazilian hospitals / Características clínicas e eletrencefalográficas da epilepsia occipital benigna da infância em dois hospitais terciários brasileiros

This study intended to investigate the clinical and electroencephalographic benign occipital epilepsy of childhood (BOEC) characteristics in a population sample of patients from two tertiary Brazilian hospitals. We analyzed retrospectively 4912 electroencephalograms (EEGs) records, and the included patients were submitted to a new clinical and EEG evaluation. Were included 12 (0.92 percent) patients; 4 (33.3 percent) with criteria for early BOEC; 6 (50 percent) for late form and 2 (16.7 percent) with superimposed early and late onset forms. After new investigation, 2 (16.7 percent) had normal EEG; 4 (33.3 percent) had paroxysms over the occipital region; 3 (25 percent) over the temporal posterior regions and 3 (25 percent) over the posterior regions. Sharp waves were the predominant change, occurring in 8 (66.6 percent); spike and slow wave complexes in 1 (8.3 percent) and sharp and slow wave complexes in 1 (8.3 percent). Vomiting, headache and visual hallucinations were the most common ictal manifestations, presented in 100 percent of patients with superimposed forms. Vomiting were absent in the late form and headache was present in all forms of BOEC.

Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar as características clínicas e eletrencefalográficas da epilepsia occipital benigna da infância (EOBI) em uma amostra populacional de pacientes de dois hospitais terciários brasileiros. Foram analisados retrospectivamente 4912 registros de eletrencefalograma (EEG). Os pacientes incluídos foram submetidos a nova avaliação clínica e eletrencefalográfica. Foram incluídos 12 (0,92 por cento) pacientes; 4 (33,3 por cento), com critérios para EOBI de início precoce; 6 (50 por cento) para a forma tardia e 2 (16,7 por cento), com superimposição de formas de início precoce e tardio. Após nova investigação, 2 (16,7 por cento) apresentaram EEG normal; 4 (33,3 por cento) paroxismos sobre a região occipital; 3 (25 por cento) sobre a região temporal posterior e 3 (25 por cento) sobre as regiões posteriores. Ondas agudas foram a alteração predominante, ocorrendo em 8 (66,6 por cento); complexos espícula e onda lenta em 1 (8,3 por cento) e complexos onda aguda e onda lenta em 1 (8,3 por cento). Vômitos, cefaléia e alucinações visuais foram as manifestações ictais mais comuns, estando presentes em 100 por cento dos pacientes com formas superimpostas de EOBI. Vômitos não foram relatados na forma tardia e cefaléia esteve presente em todas as formas de EOBI.

Concomitance of Childhood Absence Epilepsy and Benign Rolandic Spikes / 대한간질학회지

Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) and benign epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal spikes (BECT) are common forms of idiopathic epilepsy of childhood onset and share many features such as the marked age dependence of onset. The occurrence of generalized 3 Hz spike and waves in BECT or rolandic spikes in CAE has rarely been reported. We report 2 cases of concomitance of CAE and benign rolandic spikes. All of the two patients were female and had clinically absence seizure only. On EEG the two patients simultaneously showed centro-temporal spikes as well as ictal onset of absence seizure consisting of generalized 3 Hz spike and waves. All of the two patients have become seizure-free with valporic acid. It is rare but not impossible that (Rolandic spikes can concur with CAE rather than as a continuum between CAE and BECT), because all of the two patients have not shown BECT so far.

Influence of subclinical epileptiform discharges on mathematics cognitive function / 临床神经病学杂志

Objective To explore the influence of subclinical epileptiform discharge(SED) on mathematics cognitive function. Methods Using event-related potential (ERP) detection method by stimulation of mathematical operation,11 patients with benign epilepsy of children with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS group),who treated with Valproate sodium (VPA) and clinical seizures got under control,but had frequent SED,and 11 normal children (NC group) were detected. The results were analysed. Results Compared with NC group,the P3 latencies of all leads in BECTS group were significantly prolongation (all P