Benign childhood epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes: evolutive clinical, cognitive and EEG aspects

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria 2010-08, Vol.68 (4), p.550-555
• Main Authors: Tedrus, Glória M A S, Fonseca, Lineu C, Castilho, Dioraci P, Pacheco, Elizabeth M C, Campregher, Amanda A, Bittar, Marina C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child; Cognition Disorders - complications; Cognition Disorders - physiopathology; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy, Rolandic - complications; Epilepsy, Rolandic - physiopathology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Neuropsychological Tests; NEUROSCIENCES; PSYCHIATRY; Psychomotor Performance - physiology
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2010000400014

Thirty-two children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) were studied for a mean period of 27.6 months. The characteristics of the seizures, electroencephalogram (EEG), WISC-III and School Performance Test were compared at the start and end of the study. Nine (28.1%) children continued having seizures. Epileptiform activity (EA) on the EEG reduced in number and was no longer recorded in 6 (18.7%) children. There was a significant improvement in the performance and perceptual organization IQ values. The improvement in reading performance failed to reach statistical significance. The performance in arithmetic worsened in 43.7% of the children, and this was associated with the persistence of epileptic seizures. There were no significant correlations between changes in cognitive aspects and characteristics of EA. There is a need to continue this study, and also search for other factors influencing the evolution of cognitive abilities in children with BECTS.