Long-term follow-up of patients with benign partial epilepsy in infancy
Akihisa Okumura1, Kazuyoshi Watanabe, Tamiko Negoro
1Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. okumura@ed.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Insights
Most children diagnosed with possible benign partial epilepsy in infancy (BPEI) do not experience recurrent seizures or cognitive issues by age 8. Long-term outcomes for BPEI are generally favorable.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epileptology
- Child Development
Background:
- Benign partial epilepsy in infancy (BPEI) is a childhood epilepsy syndrome.
- Understanding the long-term prognosis of BPEI is crucial for clinical management and parental counseling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term outcomes of children diagnosed with possible benign partial epilepsy in infancy (BPEI).
- To assess seizure recurrence and cognitive development in BPEI patients beyond early childhood.
Main Methods:
- A telephone survey with a structured questionnaire was used.
- Data were collected from 39 patients diagnosed with possible BPEI at age 2, surveyed at age 8+.
- Median follow-up age was 11.3 years.
Main Results:
- 33 out of 39 patients (84.6%) were confirmed to have definite BPEI beyond 8 years of age.
- Only three patients experienced seizure recurrence beyond age 2.
- Four patients exhibited cognitive problems, including mild intellectual disability and Asperger syndrome.
Conclusions:
- The majority of children with initial BPEI diagnosis show favorable long-term outcomes.
- Recurrent unprovoked seizures and significant cognitive deficits are uncommon in BPEI patients by age 8.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term outcome of children with benign partial epilepsy in infancy (BPEI).
Methods:
A telephone-interview survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted with patients who were diagnosed as having possible BPEI at age 2 years and who were 8 years or older at the time of the survey. The data from 39 of 48 patients were available. The median age at the time of the survey was 11.3 years; 18 boys and 21 girls were included.
Results:
Three patients had a recurrence of unprovoked seizure beyond age 2 years. Four patients had cognitive problems (mild mental retardation in three and Asperger syndrome in one). An association of paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis was observed in three patients, and another three had experienced seizures associated with mild gastroenteritis. Major behavioral problems were not recognized in any patients. Four patients were excluded from having definite BPEI at age 5 years, and another two were excluded for having definite BPEI at the last follow-up. Eventually, 33 of 39 patients were categorized as having definite BPEI beyond 8 years of age.
Conclusions:
A large majority of patients diagnosed as possibly having BPEI at age 2 years did not have a recurrence of unprovoked seizures and cognitive problems beyond 8 years of age.
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