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Ambulatory EEG recordings in children with infrequent seizures
R G Curless1, R E Ramsay, D A Katz
1Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33101.
Insights
Outpatient ambulatory electroencephalographic (AEEG) monitoring in children with infrequent seizures showed that most had normal results. However, nearly half of those with normal AEEG results later developed new seizures requiring treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Infrequent seizures in children often warrant further investigation.
- Routine electroencephalograms (EEGs) and neurological exams may not fully capture seizure activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of outpatient ambulatory electroencephalographic (AEEG) monitoring in children with infrequent seizures.
- To determine the correlation between AEEG findings and subsequent seizure activity and treatment needs.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-one children (ages 1-15) with infrequent seizures, normal routine EEGs, and normal neurological exams underwent AEEG monitoring.
- Recording durations varied (24, 22, or 6 hours).
- Eighteen patients were not on antiepileptic drug therapy during monitoring; follow-up ranged from 4-20 months.
Main Results:
- Technically satisfactory AEEG recordings were obtained in all 21 children.
- Only 2 patients (approx. 9.5%) exhibited epileptiform discharges on AEEG.
- Of the 19 patients with non-epileptiform AEEG results, 10 remained seizure-free without medication, while 9 developed new seizures requiring treatment.
Conclusions:
- AEEG monitoring in this pediatric cohort with infrequent seizures rarely revealed epileptiform activity.
- A significant proportion of children with initially normal AEEG results subsequently experienced new seizure development, necessitating antiepileptic drug therapy.
Abstract:
Twenty-one children, ages 1-15 years, were selected for outpatient ambulatory electroencephalographic (AEEG) monitoring on the basis of infrequent seizures without therapy, normal routine EEGs, and normal neurologic/developmental examinations. Technically satisfactory recordings were obtained in all patients; recording time consisted of 24, 22, and 6 hours for 15, 4, and 2 patients, respectively. Eighteen patients were not receiving antiepileptic drug therapy at AEEG. The follow-up intervals after the AEEG ranged from 4-20 months. Only 2 patients had epileptiform AEEGs. Of the remaining 19 with nonepileptiform records, 10 were seizure free without antiepileptic drug therapy, but 9 developed additional seizures which required treatment.