title: Etiology, clinical features and outcome of epilepsia partialis continua in cohort of 51 children.
abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate etiology, clinical characteristics and outcome in children with epilepsia partialis continua (EPC). The investigation included 51 children with EPC aged 0.2-18 years treated in the period 1993-2009. The median period from the onset of underlying disorder to EPC was 6 months (0-72 months). EPC was caused by different pathologies: inflammatory and immune-mediated (52%), metabolic (13.7%), structural brain abnormalities (11.8%), cryptogenic (7.8%), vascular (5.9%), dual (5.9%), postoperative (2%). Median duration of EPC was 15 days (1-200 days). EPC involved more frequently the right side of the body comparing to the left one. The outcome was assessed at the end of the follow up period (mean 6.5 years, ranged 0.2-16 years). Unchanged neurological status was observed in 10 (19.6%) children, neurological consequences in 33 (64.7%) children and lethal outcome in 8 (15.7%) children. The most frequent etiology in our cohort was inflammatory and immune-mediated disease of central nerve system including Rasmussen's encephalitis. The duration of EPC was prolonged, most frequently involving the right upper limb. The outcome of EPC in children was unfavorable.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Mother and Child Healthcare of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. ruzica.kravljanac@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ruzica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kravljanac
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djuric
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jovic
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djordjevic
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zamurovic
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pekmezovic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D017036:Epilepsia Partialis Continua / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome