Generalized epilepsy in childhood: some notes from a developmental perspective.
Efforts to establish more detailed classification of childhood epilepsy have increased our knowledge in this field, but have also led to a tendency of excessive subdivision, especially in generalized forms. This paper emphasizes the need for the reconsideration of a number of basic factors that favour a more unitary physiopathogenetic and clinical interpretation: 1) the electroclinical pattern is age-related; 2) the electroclinical paroxysmal expressiveness is greatest in childhood; 3) two types of manifestations can be distinguished in the process of spread and generalization (a benzodiazepine-sensitive complex associated with a more regular and organized EEG pattern, and a corticotropin-sensitive complex associated with an irregular, unorganized EEG pattern).
De Negri
M
M
Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Genoa, Istituto G Gaslini, Italy.
D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant