P48 – 2876: The evaluation of the frontal lobe function in the patients with absence epilepsy

• Published in: European journal of paediatric neurology 2015-05, Vol.19, p.S107-S107
• Main Authors: Haspolat, S, Gencpinar, P, Kalay, Z, Turgut, S, Duman, O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Neurology; Pediatrics
• ISSN: 1090-3798; 1532-2130
• DOI: 10.1016/S1090-3798(15)30361-5

Objective Based on earlier studies, CAE has been considered as a benign disorder with relatively easily attained seizure control and minimal involvement of cognition and behavior. However, more recent outcome studies report a varying rate of seizure control, as well as learning and cognitive difficulties. The aim of this study is the evaluation of neurocognitive function, especially frontal lobe, in the patients with typical absence epilepsy. Methods Thirty-eight (19 healthy children and 19 patients) participants were enrolled. Neurocognitive function tests such as Serial Digit Learning Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Visual Aural Digit Span Test and STROOP Test were performed to all participants. Results There was a significant difference between the groups according to Serial Digit Learning Test (SDLT) and the subgroup of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. As for the WCST performance, there was significant difference in categories achieved, difficulty of maintaining set, perseverative errors, and perseverative responses between patient and control groups (p=0.037, p=0.010, p=0.011). In Serial Digit Learning Test and in the non-perseverative error subgroup of WCST performance, there was a significant difference in the patient group whose seizures started before the age 6 (p=0.029, p=0.041). As for the Visual-Aural Digit Span Test performance, there was a significant difference between the groups when compared to the duration response to drug treatment in categories achieved, aural-oral, visual-oral, aural-written, and visual-written. (p=0.010, p=0.025, p=0.012, p=0.034). Conclusion Long-term risk of learning impairments, failure in executive abilities, short-term memory and attention disorders can occur in children with absence epilepsy, especially in patients whose seizure started before the age of 7 years not responding to single drug, and the duration of response to drug was longer than 6 months. Our results highlight potentially detrimental effect of absence seizures on cognition.