CLINICAL, ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC AND BEHAVIORAL FEATURES OF TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY IN CHILDHOOD
Abstract number :
1.385
Submission category :
Year :
2003
Submission ID :
3759
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2003, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Renata C. Franzon, Maria A. Montenegro, Catarina A. Guimaraes, Carlos A. Guerreiro, Marilisa M. Guerreiro Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in childhood presents clinical, etiological and electroencephalographic peculiarities. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical, electroencephalographic and behavioral features of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in childhood.
Thirty-six patients with TLE were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups: group A with 6 patients ([lt] 6 years) and group B with 30 patients (6 to 18 years). The clinical data were gathered from the history given by the parents and also from the video-EEG monitoring. Patients underwent at least four routine EEGs and video-EEG monitoring whenever possible. Clinical and behavioral features and electroencephalographic findings were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, considering the level of significance of 0.05.
There were 20 girls and 16 boys, with ages ranging from 2 to 18 year (mean 11.5). Regarding the clinical features of the focal seizures, motor components were more frequently seen in children younger than 6 years of age (p[lt]0.01), while automatisms were more frequently seen in the patients older than 6 years of age (p[lt]0.05). Associated myoclonic seizures were more frequent in the younger age group (p[lt]0.01). Behavioral disturbances such as hyperactivity and aggressiveness and speech delay were more common in the younger age group (p[lt]0.05).
Our data show that TLE in early childhood presents peculiar characteristics. TLE in children younger than 6 years of age is more frequently associated with motor components, myoclonic seizures, behavioral disturbances and speech delay. Conversely, TLE in older patients has frequent automatisms.
[Supported by: FAPESP.]