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Risk and correlates of autism spectrum disorder in children with epilepsy: a community-based study

Anne T Berg1, Sigita Plioplys, Roberto Tuchman

  • 1Department of Biology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA. atberg@niu.edu

Journal of Child Neurology
|March 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Autism spectrum disorder affects 5% of children with new epilepsy diagnoses. West syndrome and intellectual impairment significantly increase autism risk in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • The co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and epilepsy in children is a recognized clinical observation.
  • However, the precise prevalence and associated factors of ASD in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy remain largely uncharacterized in community settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in a prospective cohort of children with newly diagnosed epilepsy.
  • To identify factors associated with autism spectrum disorders in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, community-based study involving children newly diagnosed with epilepsy.
  • Autism spectrum disorder diagnosis was confirmed through parental interviews, medical record review, and expert psychiatric evaluation.
  • Statistical analysis included calculating prevalence ratios to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • Autism spectrum disorder was identified in 5% (28 out of 560) of children with newly diagnosed epilepsy.
  • West syndrome (prevalence ratio = 4.53) and intellectual impairment (prevalence ratio = 4.34) were independently associated with ASD.
  • Male gender was also associated with ASD (prevalence ratio = 3.71) in the absence of West syndrome.
  • Among children with normal cognitive abilities, 2.2% had ASD, a rate significantly higher than the general population.

Conclusions:

  • Autism spectrum disorder is significantly more prevalent in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy compared to the general population.
  • West syndrome, intellectual impairment, and male sex are key determinants of ASD in children with epilepsy.
  • These findings highlight the need for careful screening and management of ASD in pediatric epilepsy populations.

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