Abstracts

Clinical Significance of Positive Spike Wave Discharges in the Pediatric Population: Insights Beyond Neonates

Abstract number : 2.179
Submission category : 3. Neurophysiology / 3C. Other Clinical EEG
Year : 2025
Submission ID : 999
Source : www.aesnet.org
Presentation date : 12/7/2025 12:00:00 AM
Published date :

Authors :
Presenting Author: Anita Datta, MD, FRCPC – University of British Columbia

Shishir Duble, MD – University of British Columbia

Rationale:

Positive spike wave discharges (PSW) on EEG are well-documented in neonates, but data regarding their significance in other populations are limited. This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of PSW in children aged 1 month to 19 years at a single tertiary care center over approximately three decades.



Methods:

Clinical information of children with focal PSW (n=326) was compared to control patients with focal negative IEDs (n=898).



Results:

From 77,500 pediatric EEGs in our laboratory from 1992 to 2020, PSW were identified in 445 (0.57%) children, of which 326 met inclusion criteria. PSWs were located in the following brain regions: occipital (139), central (65), frontal (63), temporal (43), parietal (9) and centro-temporal (7). PSW patients had a younger median age of seizure onset than control patients [1.1 years (0.30, 4.00) vs 4 years (1.3, 7.5), p < 0.001].

Neurophysiology