Clinical Characteristics and EEG Findings of Patients with Childhood Absence Epilepsy Çocukluk Çağı Absans Epilepsili Hastaların Klinik Özellikleri ve EEG Bulguları

Creative Commons License

Baştemur M., Yalçın H. N., Bilgin N., ARSLAN M., ÜNAY B.

Genel Tip Dergisi, cilt.35, sa.6, ss.1178-1189, 2025 (Scopus, TRDizin)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 35 Sayı: 6
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.54005/geneltip.1708309
  • Dergi Adı: Genel Tip Dergisi
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1178-1189
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Absence seizures, childhood absence epilepsy, electroclinical features, idiopathic generalized epilepsy, therapeutic outcomes
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Aim: This study aimed to describe the clinical features and electroencephalographic (EEG) findings of patients with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) and to evaluate the relationship of these parameters with treatment response. Methods: Twenty-one patients diagnosed with CAE between 2021 and 2024 were included in the study. Demographic data, seizure characteristics, timing of treatment initiation, clinical examination findings, baseline EEG recordings, and treatment responses during follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. Pre-treatment EEG recordings were re-evaluated by two pediatric neurologists. Results: The mean age at seizure onset was 7.3 ± 1.7 years (range: 4.5-11). Among the patients, 52.4% were boys and 47.6% were girls. Approximately one-third of the patients had a motor component accompanying their seizures. During the hyperventilation (HV) test, seizures were observed in 15 cases (71.4%) and typical spike-wave complex (TSWC) on EEG was seen in 18 (85.7%). TSWC were detected in four cases (19%) during intermittent photic stimulation (IPS). The duration of TSWC on EEG was most frequently shorter than 10 seconds (sec). Focal fragments were detected in eight patients (38.1%), and Occipital intermittent rhythmic delta activity (OIRDA) in six (28.6%). Complete treatment response was achieved in 90.9% of patients with a total of ≤4 TSWCs, and in 70% of those with >4 during EEG recording. All patients initially treated with ethosuximide (ESM) achieved complete seizure control, whereas response rates were lower in the valproic acid (VPA) and lamotrigine (LTG) groups. Patients who started treatment within three months had higher response rates. No seizures were observed in subsequent follow-ups of patients who achieved early complete response. Conclusions: Combined evaluation of clinical and EEG findings in CAE is crucial for treatment planning and prognosis estimation. Although focal findings do not always indicate a poor outcome, they should be interpreted with caution.