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Is there a partial benign epilepsy in infancy?
O Dulac1, R Cusmai, K de Oliveira
1Service de Neuropédiatrie, INSERM U 29, Hôpital St. Vincent de Paul, Paris, France.
Insights
This study investigated benign epilepsy with partial seizures between neonatal convulsions and childhood epilepsy. Researchers found no cases of benign partial epilepsy with a favorable outcome in this specific age range.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epileptology
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- Benign idiopathic neonatal convulsions and benign childhood epilepsy are common childhood epilepsy syndromes.
- Both syndromes are characterized by partial seizures.
- The age range between these two syndromes has not been clearly defined for benign partial epilepsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if benign epilepsy with partial seizures occurs between the typical ages of benign idiopathic neonatal convulsions and benign childhood epilepsy.
- To characterize any cases identified in this inter-syndromic age range.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 442 patient records over a 5-year period.
- Identification of cases with partial seizures occurring between 8 days and 3 years of age.
- Classification of identified cases based on clinical features and age of onset.
Main Results:
- 17 cases of benign epilepsy with partial seizures were identified.
- Six cases presented with features of benign idiopathic neonatal convulsions (onset < 6 weeks).
- Eleven cases presented with features of benign childhood epilepsy.
- No cases of benign partial epilepsy with a favorable outcome were found in the age range between these two syndromes.
Conclusions:
- The study did not identify a distinct benign partial epilepsy syndrome occurring between benign idiopathic neonatal convulsions and benign childhood epilepsy.
- Cases in this age range appeared to fall into delayed presentations of either neonatal or childhood epilepsy syndromes.
- Further research may be needed to fully understand seizure presentations in this specific pediatric age group.
Abstract:
Benign idiopathic neonatal convulsions and partial benign childhood epilepsy, the most frequent types of childhood benign epilepsy, are both characterized by partial seizures. This study was performed to determine whether any kind of benign epilepsy with partial seizures occurs in the age range between these two syndromes. We identified 17 cases of benign epilepsy with partial seizures from a review of 442 records collected in a 5-year period in which seizures occurred between 8 days and 3 years of age. Six patients with onset before 6 weeks of life had clinical features characteristic of benign idiopathic neonatal convulsions, and appeared to be a delayed type of this syndrome. Eleven patients had clinical features characteristic of partial benign childhood epilepsy. In the age range between occurrence of these two recognized epileptic syndromes, we identified no case of partial epilepsy with favorable outcome.