Risk of Developing Seizures in Children With Abnormal EEG Findings During Polysomnography

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Clinical Neurophysiology

Background:

• Polysomnography (PSG) uses abbreviated electroencephalogram (EEG) for sleep staging.
• The diagnostic utility of EEG abnormalities detected during PSG in non-epileptic children requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the correlation between epileptiform abnormalities on abbreviated EEG during PSG and routine EEG (rEEG) in children.
• To determine if these EEG abnormalities predict an increased risk of seizures in children without a prior epilepsy diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 67 children with EEG abnormalities during PSG, excluding those with a prior epilepsy diagnosis.
• Analysis included subsequent routine EEG (rEEG) results and epilepsy diagnosis as primary outcomes.

Main Results:

• Abnormal epileptiform discharges were identified in 65% of children on PSG-derived EEG.
• Children with abnormal PSG EEG findings were significantly more likely to have abnormal rEEG results.
• A notable proportion of these children (29%) subsequently developed seizures, with higher rates observed for generalized or mixed abnormalities.

Conclusions:

• Abnormal EEG findings during PSG in children without a history of seizures are predictive of abnormalities on routine EEG.
• These children face an elevated risk of developing epilepsy, underscoring the importance of follow-up evaluations.