Epilepsy in patients with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.
Data on epilepsy in pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified are few and scanty. Seventy-seven patients with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified were compared with 77 with autistic disorder, matched for age and sex. The 2 groups were divided into 3 subgroups each: A, without electroencephalography (EEG) paroxysmal abnormalities or epilepsy; B, with EEG paroxysmal abnormalities without epilepsy; and C, with epilepsy. Mild mental retardation (P < .01), pathological neurological examination (P < .05), cerebral lesions (P < .01), abnormal EEG background activity (P < .001), and associated genetic pathologies (P < .01) were more common in pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. Familial antecedents for epilepsy prevailed in subgroup C (P < .01). Epilepsy occurred in 35.1% of patients with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, with no statistically significant difference compared with autistic disorder. The mean age of seizure onset was earlier (2 years 8 months) in pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (P < .000). Seizure outcome was better in autistic disorder. Genetic diseases and cerebral lesions should be investigated in pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified to clarify the etiological and clinical features.
Parmeggiani
Antonia
A
Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy. antonia.parmeggiani@unibo.it
Posar
Annio
A
Antolini
Chiara
C
Scaduto
Maria Cristina
MC
Santucci
Margherita
M
Giovanardi-Rossi
Paola
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D015995:Prevalence