EEG SAILBOATS IN CHILDREN WITH ADHD AND SEIZURES
Abstract number :
1.182
Submission category :
Year :
2002
Submission ID :
65
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/7/2002 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2002, 06:00 AM
Authors :
William J. Nowack, Abdorasool Janati. Neurology, Kansas University School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS; Neurological Institute of Northern Virginia, Alexandria, VA; Neurology, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
RATIONALE: Early EEG investigators described posterior slow waves in children with behavior problems. More recently it has been noted that this occipital slowing consists of several patterns, some of which may be age-related and state-related normal variants. This abstract should bring to the attention of readers one of the possibly significant EEG findings in children with ADHD and seizures.
METHODS: We evaluated the EEGs of 63 children (age range 4-15) seen between 1992 and 2000. 44 had ADHD and 21 had seizures (Sz) and not ADHD. EEG sailboats are randomly occurring, single, asymmetrical, surface negative occipital slow waves (150-250 msec in duration) , 1.5 to 2.5 times the amplitude of background alpha rhythm. Although usually bilateral, sailboats can predominate on one side or the other; the higher amplitude can shift from side to side in one recording. Sailboats do tend to disappear during sleep.
RESULTS: The average age of children with sailboats (9.2 years) did not differ significantly from that of children without sailboats (9.6 years). Sailboats were found in 9.5% of patients with Sz and not ADD, 5% of children with ADHD and not Sz and in 50% of children with both ADD and Sz. This association is statistically significant (p=.012). Partitioning of the chi-square showed that this was due to the association between EEG sailboats and ADHD+Sz.
CONCLUSIONS: Although non-specific, the occurrence of sailboats may be a marker for the occurrence of both ADHD and Sz.