Benign partial epilepsy in infancy with complex partial seizures (Watanabe's syndrome): 12 non-Japanese new cases
G Capovilla1, L Giordano, S Tiberti
1Department of Neuropediatrics, C. Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy. pcapovil@gauss.mynet.it
Insights
This study describes benign complex partial epilepsy in infancy, a rare syndrome in non-Japanese children. The research confirms a favorable prognosis with normal development and seizure freedom in affected pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epileptology
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- Epilepsy classification includes syndromes with favorable pediatric outcomes.
- New epileptic syndromes are continually proposed in scientific literature.
- Benign complex partial epilepsy in infancy was first proposed by Watanabe in 1987.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey non-Japanese cases of benign complex partial epilepsy in infancy.
- To present clinical and EEG data for children with this epilepsy syndrome.
- To describe the long-term outcome and developmental trajectory of affected children.
Main Methods:
- Case series of 12 children (up to 9 years old) followed for 2 years.
- Clinical features were assessed against Watanabe's criteria.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings (seizure and interictal) were obtained.
- Psychomotor development was evaluated.
Main Results:
- All 12 children exhibited typical clinical features of Watanabe's syndrome.
- EEG confirmed partial seizures originating from occipital or temporal regions.
- Interictal EEGs were normal during waking and sleep states.
- All children achieved seizure freedom, with 80% discontinuing medication.
- Normal psychomotor development was observed in all participants.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first description of non-Japanese cases of benign complex partial epilepsy in infancy.
- The findings support a benign evolutionary course and favorable long-term outcome for this epilepsy syndrome.
- Early diagnosis and management likely contribute to normal development and seizure control in pediatric epilepsy.
Abstract:
International epilepsy classification includes different epileptic syndromes with favourable outcomes in pediatric age. In addition to these, other forms probably exist and in various papers in international literature they are proposed as new entities. This article presents a survey of benign complex partial epilepsy in infancy, a new epileptic syndrome first proposed by Watanabe, in 1987. Our work represents the only description of non-Japanese cases although similar but familial cases had been referred by Vigevano in 1992. We present data for 12 children (aged up to 9 years) followed over 2 years who had all the typical clinical features characterizing Watanabe's cases. For all of them we obtained EEG seizure recordings demonstrating the partial nature of their fits, arising from occipital or temporal regions. Interictal EEG were completely normal, both in waking and sleep. Evolution demonstrated benign outcome and all the children are seizure-free (eight of them have already stopped all medication) and all have normal psychomotor development.
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