Eye Opening in Untreated Typical Absence Seizures.
Abstract number :
1.160
Submission category :
Year :
2001
Submission ID :
2324
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM
Authors :
L.G. Sadleir, MB ChB, Paediatrics, Univ of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand; M.B. Connolly, MB, Neurology, BC Children[ssquote]s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada; S. Smith, RET, Neurophysiology, BC Childrens[ssquote]s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada; K. Farr
RATIONALE: Eye opening within 2.5 seconds of the onset of the seizure has been reported to be a characteristic clinical manifestation of absence seizures in childhood absence epilepsy (CAE). Previous video-EEG studies of absence seizures have used selected patient populations and many have involved patients treated with antiepileptic drugs. The purpose of this study is to examine the incidence of eye opening during typical absence seizures in previously untreated children with CAE.
METHODS: The database of the EEG department of a children[ssquote]s hospital was searched for all previously untreated children with typical absence seizures and normal intelligence seen between 1992 and 1997. Video-EEG recordings had been performed routinely on all patients during that period. The video-EEG was reviewed and an absence seizure diagnosed if the generalised spike-wave discharges were accompanied by definite clinical change. Children under 11 years of age who had frequent daily seizures were selected.
RESULTS: The study population comprised of 47 children in whom 283 seizures were recorded. Eye opening occurred at some time during the seizure in only 120 (59%) of the 204 seizures in which the eyes were closed at the onset of the seizure. The mean duration of seizures in which the children did not open their eyes was shorter (6.6 seconds v 12.9 seconds). Eye opening occurred more often during hyperventilation (72 of 106 seizures - 68%), in the unprovoked wake state (11 of 14 seizures - 79%), and during photic stimulation (12 of 19 seizures - 63%) than when seizures occurred during drowsiness (22 of 49 seizures - 45%) or in sleep (3 of 16 seizures - 19%). The mean duration until eyes opened was 2.9 seconds and the eyes did not open until more than 5 seconds after the onset of the seizure in 23 (19%) of the seizures.
CONCLUSIONS: In untreated children with CAE, eye opening occurs in just over half of the absence seizures in which eyes are closed at the onset of the seizure and half of eye opening occurs more than 2.5 seconds after the onset of the seizure. Eye opening does not appear to be a consistent clinical feature of absence seizures in childhood absence epilepsy.