Childhood absence epilepsy.
BACKGROUND
Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is a relatively rare form of idiopathic generalized epilepsy, occurring in previously normal children with a strong genetic predisposition. The annual incidence of CAE has been estimated at 6.3/100,000 to 8/100,000 children aged 0-15 years.


METHODS
Medical and electroencephalographic records of 50 Chinese children with CAE were reviewed.


RESULTS
There were 22 males and 28 females. The age of onset ranged from 3 to 12 years with a mean of 6.9 +/- 2.4 years. Six children (12%) had positive familial epileptic history and 11 patients (22%) had a past history of febrile convulsion. Electroencephalographically, there were posterior delta rhythm (6/50), frontocentral (1/50), and centrotemporal (1/50) spikes in addition to the characteristic 3 Hz spike and wave complex. All patients received regular or irregular treatment with valproate. Sixteen patients (32%) evolved to generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS) with a mean of 2.1 +/- 1.6 years of lag from stopping valproate. The patients with GTCS had significant late onset of age, a longer active period, and longer treatment duration than those without GTCS (p < 0.01). There were significantly more patients with irregular treatment evolving to GTCS than those with regular treatment (p < 0.01). None of the patients with posterior delta rhythm evolved to GTCS.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular treatment with valproate is the modality of choice in the management of CAE. Posterior delta rhythm seems to be a good prognostic factor electroencephalographically.
Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
W J
WJ
Shian
C S
CS
Chi
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014635:Valproic Acid