title: [Familial epilepsy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epilepsy is a chronic disease, with heterogeneous etiology, clinical spectrum and prognosis. Among many causes of epilepsy genetic factors and hereditary diseases with different inheritance mechanisms manifesting with epileptic seizures play an important role. Analysis of genealogy of families burdened with epilepsy, development of molecular and genetic tests may contribute to better understanding of mechanisms of epileptogenesis and more effective treatment of epilepsy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Research and analysis of epilepsy incidence in families of children hospitalized because of epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 18 children with diagnosed epilepsy and positive family history of epilepsy, hospitalized in the Department of Pediatric Neurology Chair of Pediatric and Adolescent Neurology in the years 2007-2009. Apart from thorough pregnancy and delivery history, brain imaging examinations (MR, CT) and inter seizure EEG recording were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive family history of epilepsy was found in children at the age range from 1 month to 11 years. In the examined group predomination of older children (over 2 years of age) and girls (10/18) was observed. Epilepsy with generalized seizures was found in majority of patients from examined group. The siblings of the patients were the most often affected with the epilepsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive family history of epilepsy in children with epilepsy is almost always associated with occurrence of generalized seizures. Even in twins different types of seizures may occur, which may result from structural brain lesions in one of them. In research of familial occurrence of epilepsy repetitive history taking and complementation is needed.
authors: Klinika Neurologii Dzieciecej, Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum, Kraków. neupedkr@cm-uj.krakow.pl
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Steczkowska
authors: Aleksandra
authors: A
authors: Gergont
authors: Sławomir
authors: S
authors: Kroczka
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Kaciński
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution