The clinical symptoms and electroencephalographic (EEG) features of typical absence seizures, including transverse topographical analysis (TTA), were studied retrospectively using a simultaneous EEG-VTR system in 36 children aged between 3 and 17 years. Complex absences were more common than simple, and oral automatisms were the most frequent complex symptoms. Occurrence of complex symptoms was directly proportional to the length of seizures. There was no association between lateral TTA type and simple absences. Prognosis was favorable in patients with long seizure duration (P < 0.01), bilaterally synchronous monomorphic spike-waves throughout the seizure discharges (BSMTSD) (P < 0.005) and lateral TTA type (P < 0.05). Two different mechanisms of origin for BSMTSD/non-BSMTSD and lateral/non-lateral TTA types are probably responsible for the difference in prognosis. Favorable prognosis in patients with long seizures is discussed in relation to the duration of the illness. EEGs with BSMTSD and lateral TTA type may indicate a favorable prognosis in children with absence seizures.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Benign complex partial epilepsies in infancy.

Nine infants with benign complex partial seizures, diagnosed by simultaneous electroencephalogram and video recordings, are described. At mostly 3-10 months of age, these infants demonstrated clusters of seizures which consisted of motion arrest, decreased responsiveness, staring or blank eyes mostly with simple automatisms, and mild convulsive movements associated with focal paroxysmal discharges. The seizures were controlled easily with carbamazepine or phenobarbital and all patients remained seizure-free for more than 3 years. Four patients had family histories of benign types of infantile convulsions. Interictal electroencephalogram and psychomotor development were normal in all patients.

Carbamazepine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Benign familial neonatal convulsions: generalized epilepsy?

A 3-year-old girl is presented with benign familial neonatal convulsions. She had seizures during the neonatal period and at age 3 months. Seizure manifestations and ictal electroencephalography indicated that she had not experienced generalized seizures but partial seizures, although international classifications of epilepsy define benign familial neonatal convulsions as generalized epilepsy.

Child, Preschool↗