Benign childhood epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BCECTS): early onset of seizures is associated with poorer response to initial treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Benign childhood epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BCECTS) is the most common idiopathic partial epilepsy in children. Treatment attitudes remain a controversial issue. We examine features that could suggest refractoriness at onset.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 144 children with BCECTS diagnosed at the Division of Pediatric Neurology, Asan Medical Center, from March 1, 1995, to April 30, 2002 and treated with AEDs. The patients were subdivided into two groups according to the number of antiepileptic drugs used for effective seizure control.


RESULTS
Of the 144 patients, 75 were male and 69 were female, with a mean age at seizure-onset of 7.2 +/- 2.3 years (range, 2.1-14.3 years); 119 children were taking one antiepileptic drug (AED) (Group A), and 25 were taking more than one (Group B). There were no significant group differences in female-to-male ratio, prescribed AEDs, number of seizures before the start of treatment, interval between seizure-onset and start of treatment, presence of secondarily generalized seizures, or presence of bilateral EEG abnormalities. The groups differed however, in mean age at seizure onset (7.6 +/- 2.2 years versus 5.1 +/- 1.9 years, p < 0.05) and percentage of patients with seizure-onset before 3 years (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
When treated with AEDs, children with BCECTS usually respond well. However, an earlier onset of seizures is associated with more frequent seizures and initial refractoriness to medical treatment.
You
Su Jeong
SJ
Department of Pediatrics, Epilepsy Center, Inje University College of Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Kim
Deok-Soo
DS
Ko
Tae-Sung
TS
D017668:Age of Onset; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants