This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Aldenkamp, A. P. Articles by Diepman, L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Aldenkamp, A. P. Articles by Diepman, L. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Acute Cognitive Effects of Nonconvulsive Difficult-to-Detect Epileptic Seizures and Epileptiform Electroencephalographic Discharges

Department of Behavioural Sciences Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam

Johan Arends, MD, PhD

Department of Clinical Neurophysiology Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, Heeze

Truus C.G. Overweg-Plandsoen, MD, PhD

Department of Clinical Neurophysiology Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, Department of Neurology Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, Heeze

Karin C. van Bronswijk, MA

Department of Behavioural Sciences Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, Heeze

Angelique Schyns-Soeterboek, MD

Department of Neurology, Section of Pediatric Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands

Inge v.d. Linden

Department of Clinical Neurophysiology Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, Heeze

Leonie Diepman, MA

Department of Behavioural Sciences Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, Heeze

This study compares the acute cognitive effects of short nonconvulsive seizures with the effects of interictal epileptiform electroencephalographic (EEG) discharges in children. The study is a prospective, standardized, nonrandomized, and open clinical comparative study. Eligible patients were included when they had (a) unclear seizures and fluctuations in cognitive performance and (b) frequent epileptiform EEG discharges in a recent EEG. All children were assessed with EEG/video (Brainlab®) simultaneously with computerized neuropsychologic testing (FePsy®) assessing motor speed/alertness, mental speed/attention, and memory function. Eleven patients with short nonconvulsive seizures during cognitive testing were included and compared with 11 matched patients with interictal epileptiform EEG discharges during cognitive testing but without seizures. Patients included in both groups had a reconfirmed diagnosis of epilepsy. Cognitive performance for both groups was compared. Statistical analysis showed significant correlations beween the number of seizures (during cognitive testing) and impaired alertness and between the duration of the ictal period and memory impairment. Interictal epileptiform EEG discharges do not have an additional independent effect on cognitive function. The results demonstrate the accumulating cognitive effect of seizures and illustrate that frequent seizures, even when these are short in duration and with subtle symptomatology, can have a substantial impact on daily life and can lead to state-dependent learning impairment. Alertness and short-term memory appeared to be the functions that are most vulnerable for the acute effects of seizures. (J Child Neurol 2001;16:119-123).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 16, No. 2, 119-123 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/088307380101600210


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. D'Agati, R. Moavero, C. Cerminara, and P. Curatolo Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex J Child Neurol, October 1, 2009; 24(10): 1282 - 1287. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Chauviere, N. Rafrafi, C. Thinus-Blanc, F. Bartolomei, M. Esclapez, and C. Bernard Early Deficits in Spatial Memory and Theta Rhythm in Experimental Temporal Lobe Epilepsy J. Neurosci., April 29, 2009; 29(17): 5402 - 5410. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. P. Aldenkamp, B. Weber, W. C. G. Overweg-Plandsoen, R. Reijs, and S. van Mil Educational Underachievement in Children With Epilepsy: A Model to Predict the Effects of Epilepsy on Educational Achievement J Child Neurol, March 1, 2005; 20(3): 175 - 180. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. C. Tromp, J. W. Weber, A. P. Aldenkamp, J. Arends, I. vander Linden, and L. Diepman Relative Influence of Epileptic Seizures and of Epilepsy Syndrome on Cognitive Function J Child Neurol, June 1, 2003; 18(6): 407 - 412. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J van der Post, M. Schram, R. Schoemaker, M. Pieters, E Fuseau, A Pereira, S Baggen, A. Cohen, and J. van Gerven Cns Effects of Sumatriptan and Rizatriptan in Healthy Female Volunteers Cephalalgia, May 1, 2002; 22(4): 271 - 281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]