Analysis of intermittent photic stimulation in children′s video electroencephalography / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the value of intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) in children′s video electroencephalography (EEG).Methods:The data of 8 994 children aged 1 to 18 years, who received IPS in the video EEG examination at the Liangjiang Campus of the Children′s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from March 2021 to March 2022, were analyzed retrospectively.Patients were divided into non-epilepsy group and confirmed or suspected epilepsy group.Their IPS responses, clinical and EEG characteristics were collected.Categorical variables were expressed using frequencies and percentages.The relationship between IPS response and age was determined by Chi- square test or Fisher′ s exact probability method. Results:The median age of 8 994 children was 6.3 years.There were 2 310 (25.7%) children in the non-epileptic group, including 1 364 (59.0%) males and 946 (41.0%) females.There were 6 684 (74.3%) children in the confirmed or suspected epileptic group, including 3 842 (57.5%) males and 2 842 (42.5%) females.In the non-epileptic group, 141 cases (6.1%) had IPS photo-driving responses, and 1 case had photo paroxysmal response (PPR). In the confirmed or suspected epilepsy group, IPS photo-driving responses (2.4%) occurred in 160 cases, PPR (1.2%) in 82 cases, photo convulsion responses(0.3%) in 18 cases, and asymmetric photo-driving responses (0.2%) in 14 cases.The IPS photosensitivity responses varied among children of different ages, sexes, epileptic discharge types and seizure types in the confirmed or suspected epilepsy group.The children aged 6 to 18 years showed significantly stronger photosensitivity responses than those aged 1 to <6 years ( P<0.001). The photosensitivity activity in females was 1.9 times higher than that in males.The photosensitivity activity in patients with generalized discharges was 1.7 times more intense than that in patients with focal discharges.The photosensitivity reaction in patients with photo convulsive generalized seizures was 2.5 times stronger than that in patients with focal seizures. Conclusions:Routine standardized IPS is important for the detection of photosensitivity in children diagnosed or suspected with epilepsy.It can effectively guide the medical practice.