Childhood absence epilepsy: Elctroclinical features and diagnostic criteria.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the electroclinical features of children with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) and discuss the diagnostic criteria for CAE.


METHODS
The video-electroencephalogram (VEEG) database in our hospital was searched using "absence seizures" and "3-Hz generalized spike and waves (GSW)" as key-words. Other epileptic syndromes with typical absence seizures were carefully excluded. Children meeting the CAE diagnostic criteria of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in 1989 were further evaluated with the diagnostic criteria proposed by Panayiotopoulos in 2005.


RESULTS
Totally 37 children met the 1989 ILAE criteria of CAE. The onset age of absence seizures ranged from 3 to 11 years. All patients had frequent absence seizures (5-60 times per day). Two patients (5.4%) had generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Hyperventilation induced absences in all patients. VEEG confirmed that 7 patients (18.9%) had only simple absences, 25 patients (67.6%) had only complex absences, and 5 patients (13.5%) had both simple and complex absences. Ictal EEG showed 3Hz GSW discharges in all patients. The seizure duration ranged from 3 to 40s. Four patients (10.8%) had two spikes per wave in ictal EEG. GSW fragments were found in 29 patients (78.4%) during sleep. Interictal polyspikes and waves were present in 17 patients (45.9%). Focal discharges predominantly in the anterior regions, were found in 22 patients (56.8%). Only 7 patients (18.9%) met the diagnostic criteria proposed by Panayiotopoulos in 2005.


CONCLUSIONS
Few patients meeting the 1989 ILAE diagnostic criteria for CAE meet the new diagnostic criteria proposed by Panayiotopoulos in 2005. The new criteria for CAE are too strict to appropriately classify some patients.
Ma
Xiuwei
X
Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Xicheng District, Beijing, PR China.
Zhang
Yuehua
Y
Yang
Zhixian
Z
Liu
Xiaoyan
X
Sun
Huihui
H
Qin
Jiong
J
Wu
Xiru
X
Liang
Jianmin
J
D017668:Age of Onset; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid