title: Epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike and wave during sleep associated to periventricular leukomalacia.
abstract: Periventricular leukomalacia is the most common type of brain injury in premature infants. Our aim is to describe the frequency and the features of epilepsy in a single-center population of 137 children with periventricular leukomalacia. Forty-two of the 137 (31%) patients presented epilepsy. Twelve percent of these patients presented West syndrome, whereas 19% showed a pattern of continuous spike-waves during slow sleep syndrome. In the latter group, outcome was frequently unfavorable, with a greater number of seizures and more drug resistance. A significant association was found between epilepsy and neonatal seizures, spastic tetraplegia, and mental retardation. Although less common than in other forms of brain injury, epilepsy is nevertheless a significant complication in children with periventricular leukomalacia. The fairly frequent association with continuous spike-waves during slow sleep syndrome deserves particular attention: electroencephalographic sleep monitoring is important in order to provide early treatment and prevent further neurologic deterioration.
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy elisa.degrandis@unige.it.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Grandis
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Center, Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Margherita
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mancardi
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carelli
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carpaneto
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Service, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morana
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Center, Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirabelli-Badenier
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Edvige
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Veneselli
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Center, Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Giuseppina
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Baglietto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: cerebral palsy; preterm birth; sleep-potentiated epileptiform activity