title: Effect of anticonvulsive treatment on neuropsychological performance in children with BECTS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is a common epilepsy syndrome in childhood. Besides the occurrence of seizures, mild cognitive impairments and behavioral problems affecting language skills, spatial perception, memory, executive function, and academic achievement might be present. There is no international consensus about the decision whether or not to treat affected children. The influence of treatment on cognitive functions is debated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with BECTS were assessed in short term auditory memory, long-term verbal memory, intelligence and behavior using the "number recall" test from the Kaufman assessment battery for children, the "verbal learning memory test", the "culture free intelligence test" and the "child behavior checklist" prior to a randomized controlled antiepileptic therapy and after a treatment period of 6 months with either sulthiame or levetiracetam.
  
  
  RESULTS
  43 of 44 randomized patients were analyzed. One patient had to be excluded due to protocol violation. Patients who completed the study showed a non-significant improvement in parent-reported behavioral problems under therapy. Cognitive skills were not affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data suggest that antiepileptic drug treatment of children with BECTS with either sulthiame or levetiracetam does not affect cognitive performance. Behavior improved in a subset of patients though not reaching statistical significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University of Munich, Germany. Electronic address: moritz.tacke@med.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tacke
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gerstl
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Heukaeufer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonfert
authors.affiliation: Kork Epilepsy Center, Kehl-Kork, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bast
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cornell
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropediatrics, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd Axel
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Neubauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University of Munich, Germany; Epilepsy Center, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Borggraefe
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007802:Language; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D013843:Thiazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam; D013843:Thiazines; C084593:sulthiame; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
keywords: BECTS; Behavior; CBCL; Levetiracetam; Neuropsychological assessment; Sulthiame