Abstracts

Study for handedness of patients with epilepsy is rare. A few studies suggested that left handedness is more common in children with injury in left hemisphere, mental retardation and epilepsy. We analysed correlation of handedness in children with epilepsy according to the cause of epilepsy and site of brain lesion by comparing with control group. Subjects were 130 epileptic patients visited pediatric out-patient clinic of Pusan National University Hospital from June 2001 to August 2001. Controls were 130 children without history of convulsion or neurologic problem. We let them carry out or answer for each 10 items about the use of hand. We defined the handedness as the hand that carries out more than 5 items dominantly. We analyzed age of patient, type of seizure, cause of epilepsy and site of brain lesion in symptomatic group by reviewing the medical records in subject group. In 130 epileptic patients, left handedness were 20.0% which was higher than 4.6% in control group ([italic]P[/italic][lt]0.05). There was no statistical difference in left handedness between idiopathic epilepsy group and control group as 8.9% and 8.9%. But left handedness in symptomatic epilepsy group was 45.0% which was significantly higher than that of control group ([italic]P[/italic][lt]0.05). According to the site of brain lesion in symptomatic group, all patients with abnormality in left hemisphere showed left handedness. In cases with abnormality in both hemisphere or diffuse brain lesion, left handedness was 25.9%. Left handedness was more common in epileptic patients than normal control group. This is due to high proportion of left handedness in symptomatic epileptic patients. Left handedness in children with epilepsy is more related with left side of brain lesion.