title: Coexistence of childhood absence epilepsy and benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: A case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) and benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) are the most common forms of childhood epilepsy. Recent studies in animal models suggest that the two phenotypes may represent a neurobiological continuum. Although the coexistence of CAE and BECTS has been reported, this issue remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to analyse the electro-clinical characteristics of a group of children with contemporary or subsequent features of absence seizures and focal seizures consistent with BECTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic record review from 8 epilepsy centres was used to identify 11 subjects, 5 females and 6 males, with electro-clinical documented consecutive or contemporary coexistence of CAE and BECTS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient's age ranged between 7.8 and 17.3 years. Four out of 11 patients presented concomitant features of both syndromes, whereas the remaining 7 experienced the two syndromes at different times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although CAE and BECTS are clearly defined syndromes and considered very different in terms of their pathophysiology, they share some features (such as similar age of onset, overall good prognosis), and can occur in the same patient. The long term prognosis of these patients seems to be good with an excellent response to anticonvulsant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of L'Aquila, Italy. Electronic address: alberto.verrottidipianella@univaq.it.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casciato
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spalice
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carotenuto
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health University of Genoa, "G. Gaslini" Institute, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Striano
authors.affiliation: Child Neurology &Paediatric Headache Centre, Chair of Paediatrics, NESMOS Dpt, University of Rome 'Sapienza', Faculty of Medicine & Psychology, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Salesi Hospital, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Nelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zamponi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savasta
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Victoria Elisa
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Alonzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mecarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ritaccio
authors.affiliation: IRCCS "NEUROMED", Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Gennaro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: Absence seizures; Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS); Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE); Idiopathic generalized epilepsy