title: Does a normalizing electroencephalogram in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes abort attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
abstract: This retrospective study delineated the efficacy of antiepileptic drugs in preventing the need for methylphenidate in patients with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Seventeen patients were identified. A reduction of electroencephalogram pathologic activity by more than 50% was achieved in some patients with the antiepileptic drugs levetiracetam, sulthiame, lamotrigine, clobazam, and valproic acid. Complete normalization was achieved in two patients with sulthiame. Improvement in attention along with the reduction of pathologic electroencephalogram activity was observed in four patients, two with sulthiame, and one each with lamotrigine and levetiracetam (which was ceased because of suicidal tendencies). However, this improvement in attention was either temporary or not significant enough to discontinue methylphenidate. Methylphenidate was eventually prescribed to all patients.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Unit, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Nira
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schneebaum-Sender
authors.forename: Hadassa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goldberg-Stern
authors.forename: Aviva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fattal-Valevski
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate; D018967:Risperidone