Compulsive somatosensory self-stimulation inducing epileptic seizures.
Three children who had been diagnosed as having infantile spasms with major psychomotor retardation were referred for the persistence of series of spasm-like seizures, which were resistant to antiepileptic drug treatment, beyond infancy. Serial seizures were elicited by a compulsive self-stimulating behavior that was documented by long-term video-polygraphy. These behaviors implicated proprioceptive inputs: tapping on the chin in one case, flexion and external rotation of the leg with dislocation of the femur in one case, a particular posturing of the body followed by rhythmic shaking of the head in the last case. This clinical picture seems to constitute a particular type of outcome for infantile spasms and is particularly resistant to therapy.
Guerrini
R
R
Centre Saint Paul, Marseille, France.
Genton
P
P
Dravet
C
C
Viallat
D
D
Bureau
M
M
Horton
E J
EJ
Roger
J
J
D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D012653:Self Stimulation; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000503:physiopathology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D014743:Videotape Recording