Autism spectrum disorders in children with seizures in the first year of life - a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) in a cohort of children with history of unprovoked seizures other than infantile spasms in the first year of life.


METHODS
The source of data was computer records from all the three pediatric departments in Iceland. Children diagnosed 1982-2000 with unprovoked seizures with onset between 28 days and 12 months of age (N = 102) were invited to participate in a study. Children with known developmental disorders and those whose parents had concerns regarding their child's development or behavior were investigated for possible ASD. Parents were asked to complete the Social Communication Questionnaire and children scoring 10 points or higher were further examined with the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and observational measures.


RESULTS
Eighty-four children (82.4%), 28 boys and 56 girls, participated in the study and 36.9% (31/84) were investigated for possible ASD. Twenty-four (28.6%) had at least one neurodevelopmental disorder, 14.3% had mental retardation (MR), and six (7.1%) were diagnosed with ASD, all of whom also had MR and three of whom had congenital brain abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the estimated prevalence of ASD is higher in children with history of seizure in the first year of life than it is in the general population. There are indications that support the view that children with ASD and history of seizure in the first year of life have higher prevalence of congenital brain abnormalities and are more often female, than other children with ASD.
Saemundsen
Evald
E
State Diagnostic and Counseling Center, Division of Autism and Communication Disorders, Kopavogur, IcelandLandspitali University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Reykjavik, IcelandHealth Care Center Efstaleiti, Reykjavik, IcelandDepartment of Preventive Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Ludvigsson
Petur
P
State Diagnostic and Counseling Center, Division of Autism and Communication Disorders, Kopavogur, IcelandLandspitali University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Reykjavik, IcelandHealth Care Center Efstaleiti, Reykjavik, IcelandDepartment of Preventive Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Hilmarsdottir
Ingibjorg
I
State Diagnostic and Counseling Center, Division of Autism and Communication Disorders, Kopavogur, IcelandLandspitali University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Reykjavik, IcelandHealth Care Center Efstaleiti, Reykjavik, IcelandDepartment of Preventive Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Rafnsson
Vilhjalmur
V
State Diagnostic and Counseling Center, Division of Autism and Communication Disorders, Kopavogur, IcelandLandspitali University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Reykjavik, IcelandHealth Care Center Efstaleiti, Reykjavik, IcelandDepartment of Preventive Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007361:Intelligence Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires