title: Gastaut type-idiopathic childhood occipital epilepsy and childhood absence epilepsy: a clinically significant association?
abstract: We report an unusual association between idiopathic occipital epilepsy and childhood absence epilepsy in 2 pediatric patients. At first clinical and electroencephalographic evaluation, the patients presented the peculiar signs of idiopathic occipital epilepsy Gastaut type: focal sensory visual seizures, migraine-like symptoms (only in one patient) and unilateral spike-wave discharges over occipital regions. Both children were treated with valproic acid and their seizures were rapidly controlled. After a seizure-free period, the patients presented typical absence with ictal electroencephalographies showing 3 cycles/s generalized and symmetrical spike-wave complexes. We discuss the possible association between these two epileptic syndromes and its common pathophysiological mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini 5, 66100 Chieti, Italy. averrott@unich.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.forename: Giangennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Egidio
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001766:Blindness / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005013:Ethosuximide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009778:Occipital Lobe; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005013:Ethosuximide; D014635:Valproic Acid