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Childhood occipital epilepsy of Gastaut: a study of 33 patients
Roberto Horacio Caraballo1, Ricardo Oscar Cersósimo, Natalio Fejerman
1Neurology Department, Hospital Nacional de Pediatría "Prof Dr Juan P Garrahan", Buenos Aires, Argentina. rhcaraballo@arnet.com.ar
Insights
Childhood occipital epilepsy of Gastaut (COE-G) is a rare epilepsy syndrome. This study characterized its features, finding visual events common and an excellent prognosis in 80% of cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epileptology
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- Childhood occipital epilepsy of Gastaut (COE-G) is an idiopathic focal epilepsy syndrome.
- Understanding its electroclinical features and evolution is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the electroclinical features and evolution of childhood occipital epilepsy of Gastaut (COE-G).
- To differentiate COE-G from other common childhood epilepsy syndromes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective identification and clinical follow-up of children meeting COE-G electroclinical criteria.
- Analysis of sleep and awake electroencephalograms (EEGs) from 1990 to 2007.
- Comparison of COE-G patient cohort with Panayiotopoulos syndrome and benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.
Main Results:
- 33 patients with COE-G were identified.
- Peak age of onset was 8.5 years, with visual manifestations being the most common ictal event.
- Migraine-like symptoms were reported in approximately half of patients; 80% had an excellent prognosis.
Conclusions:
- This study confirms COE-G as a distinct, rare syndrome within idiopathic focal epilepsies of childhood.
- COE-G presents with characteristic occipital EEG findings and a generally favorable outcome.
Purpose:
To characterize the electroclinical features and evolution of childhood occipital epilepsy of Gastaut (COE-G).
Methods:
Children with electroclinical criteria of COE-G were retrospectively identified and followed-up clinically, and with sleep and awake EEGs between 1990 and 2007.
Results:
We identified 33 patients with COE-G. In the same length of time, 201 children with Panayiotopoulos syndrome and 410 children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes were registered. COE-G had a peak age at onset of 8.5 years. Visual manifestations were the most common ictal event. Ictal deviation of the eyes was frequent. Approximately half of the patients had migraine-like symptoms. In all patients the seizures occurred while awake, and 11 also had seizures during sleep. The majority of the patients had occipital spike-wave discharges when the eyes were closed that disappeared or attenuated when the eyes were opened. Prognosis was excellent in 80% of the cases.
Conclusion:
This study confirms the existence of COE-G, a rare but well-defined syndrome within the group of idiopathic focal epilepsies in childhood.
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