title: Encephalopathy with status epilepticus during sleep (ESES) induced by oxcarbazepine in idiopathic focal epilepsy in childhood.
abstract: Encephalopathy with status epilepticus during sleep (ESES) is an age-related disorder characterized by neuropsychological regression, epilepsy and a typical EEG pattern of continuous epileptiform activity (> 85%) during NREM sleep. Cases of worsening or induction of ESES with phenytoin, carbamazepine and phenobarbital have been reported. We describe a child with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) in whom treatment with oxcarbazepine (OXC) induced ESES. The patient was studied through repeated clinical-neuropsychological evaluations and 24-hour EEG recordings. He was treated with OXC two months after epilepsy onset. One month after starting OXC, he developed an abrupt and severe cognitive deterioration. A 24-hour EEG and neuropsychological tests showed an electroclinical picture compatible with ESES. Withdrawal of OXC and introduction of other drugs were followed by a prompt improvement. Five months after ESES onset, a 24-hour EEG was normal. Our report indicates that OXC can induce ESES in BECTS.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pavlidis
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubboli
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikanorova
authors.forename: Margarethe Sophie
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kölmel
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gardella
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine