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

Abstract 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 c...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Epilepsy & behavior Vol. 43; pp. 8 - 15
Main Authors:	Ebus, S.C.M, IJff, D.M, den Boer, J.T, van Hall, M.J.H, Klinkenberg, S, van der Does, A, Boon, P.J, Arends, J.B.A.M, Aldenkamp, A.P
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Elsevier Inc 01-02-2015
Subjects:	Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use Behavior Benign focal epilepsy Child Child, Preschool Cognition Educational Status Electroencephalography Epilepsy, Rolandic - physiopathology Epilepsy, Rolandic - psychology Female Follow-Up Studies Humans Interictal epileptiform activity Learning Disorders - etiology Learning Disorders - psychology Male Mental Processes Neurology Neuropsychological Tests Prospective Studies Psychomotor Performance Surveys and Questionnaires Treatment Outcome Benign focal epilepsy Cognition Interictal epileptiform activity
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Abstract 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, 6 months, and 2 years. 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.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1525-5050 1525-5069
DOI:	10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.11.027