Parental view of epilepsy in Rett Syndrome.
Few instruments exist to measure the impact of epilepsy on the quality of life in Rett Syndrome (RS).


METHODS
We attended to describe seizures characteristics, parental opinion and quality of life related in RS by using a newly developed self administered questionnaire, postal sent to parents of French Association for Rett Syndrome (AFSR).


RESULTS
Two-hundred completed questionnaires were returned. Mean age of patients was 14.8+/-8.1 years [3-42]. Parents reported that 70% of children had epileptic and non-epileptic seizures and mean age at first seizures was 7.3+/-5.1 years [1-24]. No statistical difference was found between the ages of first seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy and introduction of treatment. Seizures had a negative impact on child and family's life (68% of cases), strongly correlated to the existence of generalized, prolonged, cyanotic and drug-resistant seizures, on the child's level of alertness and progress in communication skills and psycho-social consequences such as fear of seizures, and difficulties to find home care aids.


CONCLUSIONS
We identified major concerns of parents with RS that determine the impact of seizures on children and their family's quality of life. Our results suggest that in order to improve seizures management in RS, better information should reduce fear about seizures and should improve the quality of life of RS.
Bahi-Buisson
Nadia
N
Service de Neuropédiatrie et Maladies, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Métaboliques Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France. nadia.bahi-buisson@nck.ap-hop-paris.fr
Nadia
Bahi-Buisson
BB
Guellec
Isabelle
I
Isabelle
Guellec
G
Nabbout
Rima
R
Rima
Nabbout
N
Guet
Agnès
A
Agnès
Guet
G
Nguyen
Gérard
G
Gérard
Nguyen
N
Dulac
Olivier
O
Olivier
Dulac
D
Chiron
Catherine
C
Catherine
Chiron
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires