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Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
05:52

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

[Perinatal antecedents, psychomotor retardation, learning difficulties and family history. Are they a risk factor for

B Martínez Menéndez1, R Simón de las Heras, P de la Peña Mayor

  • 1Unidad de Neurología Pediátrica, H. Universitario de Getafe, Madrid.

Anales Espanoles De Pediatria
|March 20, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Children with generalized spike-wave (S-W) on electroencephalogram (EEG) show no increased risk of epilepsy linked to pregnancy, birth issues, or family history. This finding clarifies epilepsy risk factors in pediatric patients with specific EEG patterns.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Clinical Neurophysiology

Background:

  • Epilepsy is linked to various factors including perinatal issues, CNS infections, and family history.
  • Generalized spike-wave (S-W) patterns on electroencephalogram (EEG) are observed in pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between known epilepsy risk factors and epilepsy development in children presenting with generalized S-W on EEG.
  • To determine if perinatal pathology, learning difficulties, or family history influence epilepsy risk in this specific pediatric cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 170 pediatric patients with generalized S-W on EEG was identified from 39,322 consecutive EEGs.
  • Patients were categorized into epileptic and non-epileptic groups.
  • Risk factors including medical history and family history were compared between the groups.

Main Results:

  • Out of 170 patients, 154 (90.6%) were diagnosed with epilepsy, while 16 (9.4%) were not.
  • The average follow-up period was 4.5 years.
  • No significant association was found between epilepsy and past medical antecedents or family history of epilepsy.

Conclusions:

  • The presence of generalized S-W on EEG in children does not appear to be associated with increased epilepsy risk due to pregnancy complications, birth events, neonatal issues, learning difficulties, or family history.
  • These findings suggest that other factors may be more critical in the development of epilepsy in children with generalized S-W patterns.
Abstract

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