This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted 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 Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Nolan, M. Articles by Carter Snead, O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nolan, M. Articles by Carter Snead, O. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Clinical and Neurophysiologic Spectrum Associated with Atypical Absence Seizures in Children with Intractable Epilepsy

Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Brain and Behavior Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Mohamed Bergazar, MD

Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Brain and Behavior Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Bill Chu, RET

Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Brain and Behavior Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Miguel A. Cortez, MD

Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Brain and Behavior Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, miguel.cortez@sick- kids.ca

O. Carter Snead, MD

Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Brain and Behavior Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and neurophysiologic correlates of atypical absence seizures in children with intractable epilepsy. In a retrospective review, 19 children with videoelectroencephalographic monitoring (female n = 14; male n = 5) fulfilled the electroclinical criteria for this seizure type. Atypical absence seizures occurred in a spectrum of clinical conditions associated with educational disability and intractable seizures. In comparison with children with only atypical absence seizures, children with atypical absence in association with multiple seizure types were more likely to have severe educational disability (n = 11 of 13; P = .01), a slower ictal frequency (n = 10 of 13; P = .01), and slow background rhythms for age (n = 13 of 13; P = .03). This study illustrates the broad clinical spectrum in which atypical absence seizures are encountered. Differentiation between children with only atypical absence seizures and children with multiple seizure types can be useful with respect to potential academic ability. (J Child Neurol 2005;20:404—410).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 20, No. 5, 404-410 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/08830738050200050201


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