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Atypical EEG pattern in children with absence seizures
D F Silva1, M M Lima, R Anghinah
1Setor de Eletrencefalografia, Disciplina de Neurologia Clínica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brasil.
Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Generalized delta activity during hyperventilation in children may indicate absence seizures, not just normal findings. Valproate effectively controlled these atypical seizures and EEG changes in a small study group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epilepsy Research
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Absence seizures are a type of generalized primary epilepsy.
- Hyperventilation is a common method to provoke absence seizures during EEG.
- Typical EEG findings include generalized spike-and-wave discharges at 3 Hz.
Observation:
- Four children presented with absence seizures and generalized delta activity on EEG during hyperventilation.
- These patients lacked the typical 3 Hz spike-and-wave discharges, indicating an atypical seizure pattern.
- The generalized delta activity was observed during clinical seizure attacks.
Findings:
- All four children achieved complete seizure control.
- EEG abnormalities resolved in all patients treated with valproate.
- The study suggests generalized delta activity during hyperventilation can be an ictal event in absence seizures.
Implications:
- Generalized delta activity during hyperventilation in children should be carefully evaluated and not dismissed as a normal finding.
- This atypical EEG pattern may represent a variant of absence seizures requiring appropriate treatment.
- Valproate appears effective in managing these specific types of absence seizures and their EEG correlates.