Changes in the frequency of benign focal spikes accompany changes in central information processing speed: a prospective 2-year follow-up study.

We prospectively examined whether changes in the frequency of benign focal spikes accompany changes in cognition. Twenty-six children with benign focal spikes (19 with Rolandic epilepsy) and learning difficulties were examined with repeated 24-hour EEG recordings, three cognitive tests on central information processing speed (CIPS), and questionnaires on cognition and behavior at baseline, 6months, and 2years. Antiepileptic drug changes were allowed when estimated necessary by the treating physician. At baseline, a lower CIPS was correlated with a higher frequency of diurnal interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and with worse academic achievement. At follow-up, there was a significant correlation between changes in CIPS and EEG changes in wakefulness (in the same direction) when the EEG outcome was dichotomized in IED frequency "increased" or "not increased". Behavioral problems were more often observed in patients with higher frequency of IEDs in sleep at baseline and in those with ongoing IEDs compared with those with EEG remission (without or with sporadic IEDs in the recording) at the end of the study period. No changes were observed in the results of the questionnaires. A lower diurnal IED frequency at baseline, lack of serial IEDs, and occurrence of only unilateral IEDs were correlated with a higher chance of EEG remission at 2-year follow-up. Electroencephalography remission could not be predicted from other epilepsy variables except from seizure freedom in the last six months. Our results confirm the nonbenign character of 'benign' focal spikes. Whether an early and stable EEG remission can be achieved through antiepileptic treatment and whether this is of benefit for cognitive development should be examined in prospective placebo-controlled randomized trials.

Reading performance in children with rolandic epilepsy correlates with nocturnal epileptiform activity, but not with epileptiform activity while awake.

OBJECTIVE: An association between language impairment and rolandic epilepsy is frequently reported. This impairment could be correlated with the amount of nocturnal epileptiform activity. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 26 children with rolandic epilepsy and/or rolandic spikes. All had undergone a 24-hour EEG and neuropsychological assessment within 2 weeks. Reading performance (reading words and sentences) and intelligence were measured. RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation between amount of nocturnal epileptiform activity and reading sentences R=-0.525 (P=0.008). There was a trend in this correlation for reading words R=-0.398 (P=0.054). We found a negative correlation between amount of nocturnal epileptiform activity and Verbal IQ (R=-0.51 P=0.08). No correlation was found between reading performance or Verbal IQ and amount of diurnal epileptiform activity. CONCLUSIONS: Reading performance is impaired in children with rolandic epilepsy and is correlated with the amount of nocturnal epileptiform activity.

Can spikes predict seizure frequency? Results of a pilot study in severe childhood epilepsies treated with vagus nerve stimulation.

We evaluated whether spike-rates are useful as an outcome parameter following vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). Spikes/minute and spikebursts/minute were counted in serial electroencephalograms before and after implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator in n = 19 patients with severe childhood epilepsies. In the period of 2 years post VNS, spike-rate and reported seizure frequency were significantly correlated (Spearman's R = 0.61); spikebursts and seizures were correlated with R = 0.74. The response rate, counted after 6 months, was too small to detect differences in responders and non-responders as to spike-reduction. Larger samples and effect sizes are necessary to prove the hypothesis that spike reduction is useful as outcome parameter after VNS or other interventions.

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in multiple vertebrae presenting as a lumbar radicular syndrome: A case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report is presented. OBJECTIVE: To report and discuss a case of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 10 different vertebrae in the spine of a 25-year-old woman. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: To the authors' knowledge, a case of primary bone lymphoma in several vertebrae has not been reported previously. METHODS: Primary bone lymphoma was diagnosed using magnetic resonance images and biopsy of one spine lesion. There was no other localization of the lymphoma. RESULTS: With chemotherapeutic treatment, the lymphoma was in remission for 16 months. The patient then died of complications associated with acute lymphatic B-cell leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of primary bone lymphoma in a population with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is less than 1%. A case with multiple localizations of lymphoma in the spine has never been reported before.