EEG ABNORMALITIES IN COMPLEX FEBRILE SEIZURES OF CHILDHOOD: RELATIONSHIP WITH AGE AND TIMING OF EEG SINCE ICTUS
Abstract number :
1.405
Submission category :
Year :
2003
Submission ID :
1814
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2003, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Teresa M.J. Wawrykow, Asuri N. Prasad, Charuta N. Joshi Pediatrics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
This study examines the relationship of age and timing of post-ictal electroencephalogram abnormalities in children with complex febrile seizures (CFS).
A retrospective analysis of EEG records done on children with CFS was performed. EEG requisitions and reports, and medical records over a ten-year interval (1990-2000) were reviewed for patients meeting the standard criteria of CFS. 202 records were identified; 28 were excluded due to previous history of afebrile seizure (9), CNS infection (4), history of simple not complex febrile seizure (5), or incomplete information (9). Clinical and EEG information in the remaining 175 patients was abstracted and entered into a database (MS Access 2000). Variables included were; in/out patient status, date of birth, age at time of first febrile seizure, seizure type (generalized or partial), description of the seizure, past medical history, medications, date of EEG, EEG results, neurological exam results and family history. Statistical analysis was performed using the student t test for continuous variables, and nonparametric tests (chi square) for categorical variables.
There were 175 children with CFS of whom 39.43% had abnormal EEG records. Abnormalities documented were epileptiform patterns in (40.58%), background slowing in (44.93%), or both (14.49%). Seizure types were categorized as focal (21.14%), focal secondary generalized (7.43%), generalized (69.71%), and unknown (1.71%). The mean ages of patients (abnormal (19.75) vs. normal (15.72 months) was higher in the patients with abnormal EEG results (p[lt]0.05). A positive family history of seizure was present in 41.14%. We examined factors predictive of an abnormal EEG in patients with CFS. On univariate analysis, age greater than 3 years (OR 4.25, 95% CI: 1.30-14.68), timing of EEG less than or equal to 7 days (OR 3.80, 95% CI: 1.90-7.66), and abnormal neurological exam (OR 4.84, 95% CI: 1.34-18.99) bear the strongest association.
In children with CFS, age of the patient at the time of EEG, timing of EEG after the ictal event, and the presence of neurological abnormalities on examination bear a significant relationship to the likelihood of finding of abnormalities on the EEG.
[Supported by: Children[rsquo]s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba]